QuestionCar started fine yesterday. No idication of any problems. This morning all I get is fast clicking. All other electrical working. I cleaned the posts on battery and on remote jump terminals, but still nothing but clicking. My meter registers between 13.2-13.2 when checked at the remote jump terminals. Help!!
AnswerHi Tom,
Is the clicking soft, coming from the power box under the hood, or loud, coming from the start motor solenoid mounted on the motor? That would give you some indication of where the issue is located. I would see what the voltage of the battery is when you try the 'start' position. It may be that the battery is either discharged due to an excess current draw when the car is not in use (called the "off draw", or the battery is at the end of its useful life and won't put out sufficient voltage when called upon for the high current necessary to turn the engine over.
There are a few tests of the voltage and battery current draw that you can do perform if you have the meter necessary to measure in the hundreds of amps level. I can xerox copy and postal mail you those tests.
It could be the battery, if original, is worn out. It could be the starter relay, it could be the solenoid switch, it could be the starter motor itself. it could be wire connections at the starter motor (check the big fat red one, but disconnect the battery before you do that) or at the solenoid or the relay. That differentiation requires the testing.
So, consider the battery, if that is not an issue, try charging the battery and see if that corrects things. If it does, then check what the low current "off draw" is and if above about 1.. mA then we have to find out what is discharging the battery when not in use. If charging the battery doesn't do it, then you have to do the testing of the system.
Roland
