bizarre starter noise

Asha'man

Founding Member

Feb 5, 2002

1,909

0

0

Denver

Jun 6, 2004

#1

• Jun 6, 2004

• #1

Sounds like a "whirr" and then a rapidfire "clickclickclick" as I crank. I figured the starter was dead so I dropped $120 on a new one, and it does the same damn thing. While messing with my battery, I noticed that the terminal connector on the positive has snapped in half. My dad theorized that that could lead to an inconsistent connection while starting, but once it's roll-started (four times so far), the connection stabilizes. This would make sense except that everything has power if the key is in the accessory position, even when the car is off. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Ash

 

Dr_EluSivE

Founding Member

Apr 24, 2002

2,155

0

56

Central Illinois

Jun 6, 2004

#2

• Jun 6, 2004

• #2

it is most likely your battery cable. I had intermittant starter problems as well and tried several things to resolve them. One day because it was cheap i decided to replace my nasty corroded "+" battery cable and Low and behold it worked. I have not had a problem since.

Dr.

 

i4power

Founding Member

Jan 11, 2002

1,083

0

0

Eglin AFB, Florida

Jun 6, 2004

#3

• Jun 6, 2004

• #3

Maybe the clicking was the sparking/arcing of the power across the terminal?

 

P

Paul C.

Founding Member

Aug 27, 2001

321

0

0

Thrall,TX

Jun 6, 2004

#4

• Jun 6, 2004

• #4

I always replace the starter solenoid first. It's a $10 part that can cause lots of electrical gremlins. I do the cables too.

 

E

Evil86lx

New Member

Jun 3, 2004

58

0

0

dever colo

Jun 6, 2004

#5

• Jun 6, 2004

• #5

Its the battery Brian. The clicking noise is the relay trying to do it's job but it can't do to not enough voltage.

kyle

 

Asha'man

Founding Member

Feb 5, 2002

1,909

0

0

Denver

Jun 6, 2004

#6

• Jun 6, 2004

• #6

Bingo. 'Twas indeed the battery, and now I have a new starter and positive battery cable to boot. For future reference to all of you, my battery was too underpowered to crank the starter, so it just sat there and clicked futilely. If yours does that, DON'T replace the starter, check the battery first. If the car starts with a jump, it's the batt. I could've gotten out of this for $55, but noooo, instead I spent around $180. Oh well, lesson learned. Put the rest of my Pro-Kit in after I got the new battery, so I'm happy.

Ash

 

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Evil86lx

New Member

Jun 3, 2004

58

0

0

dever colo

Jun 9, 2004

#7

• Jun 9, 2004

• #7

So you got the springs in huh... sweet what do you think of the NEW stang..

kyle

 

D

Dan'l

Founding Member

Aug 2, 2001

1,539

0

0

wisconsin

Jun 10, 2004

#8

• Jun 10, 2004

• #8

Greetings. Been busy a while. Running my 91 into the ground(skip as many repairs as possible cause she'll be parted soon) the starter was getting closer and closer to not turning over the motor and When I finally got around to looking at it, one of the long bolts dropped out of the starter, so when you hit the key the starter would bind on itself then start the motor. And like was mentioned before, the cables were junk also.(incoherent rambling..I'll go now)