Clicking noise - engine won't turn over
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
Clicking noise - engine won't turn over
Hi All,
Have a 2000 C5. Drove all day yesterday with no problems starting, running etc. Go out this morning to start and got "click, click, click, etc.." Not a sign of turn over. There was power on the dash, headlights, etc. but I did get a "low voltage" message on the DIC - was showing about 9.5 volts. I charged the battery for 20 minutes, voltage on charger and on the DIC was showing, 14.5 volts. Tried to start again and got click, click, click. Help, what could this be...battery, starter, alternator...how do I approach this?
Have a 2000 C5. Drove all day yesterday with no problems starting, running etc. Go out this morning to start and got "click, click, click, etc.." Not a sign of turn over. There was power on the dash, headlights, etc. but I did get a "low voltage" message on the DIC - was showing about 9.5 volts. I charged the battery for 20 minutes, voltage on charger and on the DIC was showing, 14.5 volts. Tried to start again and got click, click, click. Help, what could this be...battery, starter, alternator...how do I approach this?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
While your battery may be charged to 14.5 volts, your battery connections/cables might not be up to par.
Check both the positive and negative cables (14.5 volts, so be careful!) to make sure they're tight. Don't be surprised if they're loose and/or corroded. Don't be surprised if one or the other doesn't snap off due to corrosion. If that happens, check for corrosion damage beneath the battery at the PCM.
If you do find corrosion at the connections, chances are that the cables also have a green tinge to them, indicating corrosion has worked its way up the cables from the battery. You might need to replace the cables if they're corroded. If the battery took a charge, it might be ok, depending on its service date.
Check both the positive and negative cables (14.5 volts, so be careful!) to make sure they're tight. Don't be surprised if they're loose and/or corroded. Don't be surprised if one or the other doesn't snap off due to corrosion. If that happens, check for corrosion damage beneath the battery at the PCM.
If you do find corrosion at the connections, chances are that the cables also have a green tinge to them, indicating corrosion has worked its way up the cables from the battery. You might need to replace the cables if they're corroded. If the battery took a charge, it might be ok, depending on its service date.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 22,753
Likes: 943
Bad battery, has dead cells. May charge to 14.5 volts but you can still have dead cells and get that reading. When you try and start it is when you'll see the drop as your battery doesn't have the amperage needed to engage the starter or start the engine. What's your voltage while running?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,192
Likes: 4,180
From: Kannapolis NC
A lot of people jump on "battery" first on any problems with charge systems, starting, odd problems. Before you change anything, try this. Reach down beside the battery compartment, near the exhaust manifold and take hold of the large red wire going to the starter. Wiggle it and watch the starter end. If you see any movement, one of two things has happened. One, the nut is loose. Two (and by far the most likely) is that the bakelite connector in the starter has fried and is making poor contact. If you disconnect the battery and try to tighten the bolt on the starter, the post will pull out of the starter. I've seen it personally on two C5's now and read about more. The last one was this past month on an 03 Z06 with 12k on it. If you have headers, it's even more likely due to the heat so close to the connection.
Either way, do this easy test first. The Z06 owner had the alternator and battery changed and each time thought the problem was fixed. I asked him a couple of times to check the starter connection, but he didn't until the car was doing the exact same thing as your's is doing now. By this time the post was burned so badly it fell out and the car had to be flat bedded to the dealer for a starter. Just check it and post back what you find.
Either way, do this easy test first. The Z06 owner had the alternator and battery changed and each time thought the problem was fixed. I asked him a couple of times to check the starter connection, but he didn't until the car was doing the exact same thing as your's is doing now. By this time the post was burned so badly it fell out and the car had to be flat bedded to the dealer for a starter. Just check it and post back what you find.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
65GGvert you were right on it!!!!!!!!! I wiggled it and it seemed loose. Was able to tighten it slightly and the car just started right up. All systems go!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Barnesville Georgia
65GGvert you were right on it!!!!!!!!! I wiggled it and it seemed loose. Was able to tighten it slightly and the car just started right up. All systems go!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
AND 99% OF THE TIME PROBLEM SOLVED
B.Mears
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 1
From: Insane Diego Kalifonya Baby
65GGvert you were right on it!!!!!!!!! I wiggled it and it seemed loose. Was able to tighten it slightly and the car just started right up. All systems go!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
This why I dig this forum. It has bailed me out more than a few times
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: Delta BC
A lot of people jump on "battery" first on any problems with charge systems, starting, odd problems. Before you change anything, try this. Reach down beside the battery compartment, near the exhaust manifold and take hold of the large red wire going to the starter. Wiggle it and watch the starter end. If you see any movement, one of two things has happened. One, the nut is loose. Two (and by far the most likely) is that the bakelite connector in the starter has fried and is making poor contact. If you disconnect the battery and try to tighten the bolt on the starter, the post will pull out of the starter. I've seen it personally on two C5's now and read about more. The last one was this past month on an 03 Z06 with 12k on it. If you have headers, it's even more likely due to the heat so close to the connection.
Either way, do this easy test first. The Z06 owner had the alternator and battery changed and each time thought the problem was fixed. I asked him a couple of times to check the starter connection, but he didn't until the car was doing the exact same thing as your's is doing now. By this time the post was burned so badly it fell out and the car had to be flat bedded to the dealer for a starter. Just check it and post back what you find.
Either way, do this easy test first. The Z06 owner had the alternator and battery changed and each time thought the problem was fixed. I asked him a couple of times to check the starter connection, but he didn't until the car was doing the exact same thing as your's is doing now. By this time the post was burned so badly it fell out and the car had to be flat bedded to the dealer for a starter. Just check it and post back what you find.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,192
Likes: 4,180
From: Kannapolis NC
65GGvert you were right on it!!!!!!!!! I wiggled it and it seemed loose. Was able to tighten it slightly and the car just started right up. All systems go!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
I had some horrific money thoughts about what was going to happen if I had to take this thing to the stealership. I love this forum and all the knowledge from shared past experiences.
Thanks Again!
