Help car won't start!
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Powhatan Virginia
starter clicking
If the starter "clicks" and you've had it tested-- by that I'm assuming the starter gear is spinning that should mean that the starter motor and solenoid combo are OK--than you likely have a "voltage drop" in the battery cables which could be either battery cable end (positive or negative)--if you can get to them while someone is holding the key in the start position sometimes twisting/pulling/tugging on the battery cables will give you a clue--anyhow just another thought--all under the assumption that you know you have a GOOD BATTERY.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 4
From: Middle River MD
When this happened on my former 86,A new starter fixed it.
Sometimes its a bad solenoid on the starter too.
I had starters that would click and not turn the engine over,but test fine on a bench test with 12 volts applied.Theres no engine load the starter has to turn over during them tests so that can be why its showing up fine during test,but wont crank the engine over in the car.
This is just one suggestion...im sure some others will post here.
Since the battery is good and you swapped to be sure,it has to be the starter.That being said,whats clicking,the starter or the relay,do you know for sure?
Sometimes its a bad solenoid on the starter too.
I had starters that would click and not turn the engine over,but test fine on a bench test with 12 volts applied.Theres no engine load the starter has to turn over during them tests so that can be why its showing up fine during test,but wont crank the engine over in the car.
This is just one suggestion...im sure some others will post here.
Since the battery is good and you swapped to be sure,it has to be the starter.That being said,whats clicking,the starter or the relay,do you know for sure?
I just experienced this with one of my boat starters...same exact symptoms, took to it to get tested and it was "fine". Long story short, it needed a new starter.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Well I boosted the starter with my truck battery and it started right up. The battery when it was running showed 15v. Are there any tests I can do with the car running?
My battery on the vette shows 12.4v. I opened the headlights and it showed 11.9v. At the first the lights were dimmed but then they brightened up.
I took the battery out of the vette and tried to jump the starter, all it did was click. The battery showed 12.4v but I guess there aren't enough amps?? So I hope I found my problem. The battery has a 6 year warranty on it and I only got it 2 years ago. Tomorrow I'll take it back and get another one. I'll post my findings then. Thanks for everyones help!
My battery on the vette shows 12.4v. I opened the headlights and it showed 11.9v. At the first the lights were dimmed but then they brightened up.
I took the battery out of the vette and tried to jump the starter, all it did was click. The battery showed 12.4v but I guess there aren't enough amps?? So I hope I found my problem. The battery has a 6 year warranty on it and I only got it 2 years ago. Tomorrow I'll take it back and get another one. I'll post my findings then. Thanks for everyones help!
Last edited by jimmers; May 4, 2008 at 12:56 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bartonville Illinois
The starter solenoid can click and still not turn on the starter. The solenoid is a small coil that brings in a set of power contacts. Kinda like a power relay. If the solenoid clicks and nothing else happens then the power conatcts in the solenoid are probably bad. Little wires move contacts for big wires.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
Glad you got the starter fault ruled out.
NOW, put the vette battery on the charger, then in the truck, start it, and confirm that the battery is good, ...
AND, that the vette fault is the battery's ground, OR, the battery-starter link.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
I also had a charger on the vette battery for about 6 years hours yesterday and it never got over 12.4v.
Last edited by jimmers; May 4, 2008 at 10:58 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
Did we actually try to start the vette with the vette battery by by-passing the battery's ground cable, and the battery-to-starter connection? Even if you did, and it didn't work, you should still confirm that the battery is toast, by tryin' it in the truck.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Well, everything so far points to bad vette cables, since the truck battery started the vette, WHEN BYPASSING VETTE CABLES.
Did we actually try to start the vette with the vette battery by by-passing the battery's ground cable, and the battery-to-starter connection? Even if you did, and it didn't work, you should still confirm that the battery is toast, by tryin' it in the truck.
Did we actually try to start the vette with the vette battery by by-passing the battery's ground cable, and the battery-to-starter connection? Even if you did, and it didn't work, you should still confirm that the battery is toast, by tryin' it in the truck.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
The truck battery just cranked the starter. I had the vette battery in the car with the key to the on position while I cranked the starter with the truck battery. I tried to crank the starter with the vette battery the same as I did with the truck, but it never worked. I will try the vette battery in my truck in the morning to be sure.
If you did, and that did not work, the vette battery is dead.
UNLESS, the vette battery happens to be dead also (a second problem).
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
So you're sayin' that you DID bypass both cables - ground cable, AND battery-to-starter cable, and the vette battery would not start the car?
If you did, and that did not work, the vette battery is dead.
UNLESS, the vette battery happens to be dead also (a second problem).
If you did, and that did not work, the vette battery is dead.
UNLESS, the vette battery happens to be dead also (a second problem).
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Well a new battery fixed the problem. I never would have guessed a bettery showing over 12v wouldn't crank a car. Thanks to everyone that helped me through this issue!
