Admrl94

Howdy - I have a 94 auto coupe with 54K miles. I last drove it two weeks ago and today it won't start. Battery seems fine (had it checked this afternoon) and all the interior lights/accessories seem to work. But it just clicks and won't start.

Any ideas on likely suspects? I'm not much of a wrencher but just trying to get a handle on where to start.

I had the Opti replaced two years ago and with regular oil changes have enjoyed 10 years of mostly trouble free ownership putting on about 2500 miles/yr.

Thanks in advance!

Mishawaka

If you have a test light you can check and make sure you have power getting to the starter and solenoid.

John A. Marker

Did you remove the battery to have it tested, or did you test the voltage at the +/- posts only? IF you did not remove the battery, suggest your remove (neg cable first) both cables and clean the connections.

You need 12++ volts to crank the engine. Most batteries will test 12.5+ volts.

Admrl94

Thanks! I'll investigate this.

Admrl94

Thanks! I did remove the battery and had it tested but was not aware of the requirements to crank the engine. Just checked my test slip and it reports...

Voltage 12.53
Measured 763 CCA
Rated 690 CCA
Temp 83 F

Mishawaka

Don't discount what John wrote though. If the battery hasn't been checked under load it's hard to say if it is actually good.

Purple92

I hope that by now - you figured it out - but if not....

When you say clicks - a fast clicking when trying to start it is the starter solenoid pulling in - making contact with the starter motor circuit - and that starter motor current flow causing the voltage to drop down to where the solenoid releases and the starter motor stops drawing current. Then the voltage goes up again, and the cycle repeats. It's typically either a weak battery OR a "high resistance" connection somewhere. Your battery tested OK - so it's probably a bad connection at the starter - or somewhere in the ground system. You would start troubleshooting by looking for voltage drops across a number of wires while a friend cranks - or you could just disassemble and clean pos leads at battery and starter motor, and neg connections at battery and frame. You can troubleshoot by using a battery booster cable as a jumper lead - and connecting one side from the battery neg terminal and the other side to the bell housing.

IF however - you don't hear the starter motor trying to turn - see what the security light is doing- you could have a VATS issue.

antfarmer2

If it's clicking not the vats......weak battery or bad connection

aDigitalPhantom

It could also be a bad starter.

RollaMo-LT4

Can also rule out the Opti if all it is doing is "clicking".

Vats issue = Engine will not turn over at all, not even a "click".
Opti issue = Engine will turn over, but may not start.

A "clicking" sound is a classic symptom of a weak batter or bad connection.