tbb2

I had two occasions back to back when I turned the ignition to start and there was clicking for a second before the starter cranked and the engine turned over. Battery is only a year old.

Research went to cleaning the contacts at the battery and adjacent ground as well as at the starter.

- disconnect batter bolts
- disconnect ground contact at nearby passenger side inside engine bay wall
-- brass brush the battery bolts and ground contact, 600 grit sand paper body at ground contact, wipe all with alcohol
-- apply thin coating of dielectric grease on battery bolts and ground contact and body

- test start ... clicks and cranks at same time ... drive
-- let cool
- test start ... clicks and cranks at same time but clicking does not last all of while starter cranks ... drive
-- let cool ... sits for four days
- test start ... cranks without clicking ... engine starts "normally"

Waiting to see if more is needed.

StanVan

It's rare with side terminal batteries, but the cable itself may have gone bad. Corrosion can creep up inside the terminal and then up the cable. Was there a lot of corrosion when you cleaned it?

canucklehead

Clicking could be the starter solenoid. There is an electric plunger inside which engages and passes the big current to the starter motor. If the contact is worn it will click. Then a good enough arc forms and it starts.....However the arc of electricity is slowly burning out the rest of the contact....so eventually it wont start at all.
I pulled the one off my wife's plymouth voyager and replaced the contacts for like 10 bucks.
I am not sure if the gm one is serviceable. But I bought a repair kit for the voyager.

Teammuir1

Canucklehead

I agree !!! I too have replaced those contacts... but these days...buying a new relay is much easier...
especially if a person isnt mechanically inclined.... How ever if you are and you can find
a place that will have the contacts go for it ..... I would bet its the relay... too. and
if it is consider yourself lucky that its given you a warning... cause alot a times.. it just wont
work.

Teammuir1

Oh and you didnt tell us the year of the Van or the motor size
I was going to look up contact kit .... but I dont know what
I would be looking up... with no ? INFO... lol

tbb2

2003 Chevrolet Express 3500 Cargo Van; LQ4 6.0L V8

Ron6519

The, "clicking " sound is the fuel pump priming. It does that every time you start the car.