FYI - engine clicks for a second before cranking and start-up
Thread Starter
CF Active Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 215
Likes: 5
From: Arlington, VA
FYI - engine clicks for a second before cranking and start-up
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.
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.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 23
From: Harrisonburg Virginia
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?
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 7
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.
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.
CF Pro Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 711
Likes: 5
From: Shepherdsville, KENTUCKY.
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.
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.
