Ok guys, drove my car the other day, cranked fine, drove it to the car wash to spray it off. So, finished spraying it off, jumped back in, it only clicks. So I push it off, cranks right up, so I drove it home. I noticed right away, my oil pressure gauge was pointing way way past high, voltage gauge was showing nothing, and my autometer temp gauge was reading aroud 260 degrees! The car had only been running for a second though, so I knew this couldn't be right. So I reach down and turn on my electric fan, as soon as I do, temp goes to 180 and the other gauges are all reading normal. Stayed like this all the way home. So, I cut the car off and try to crank it back, turns over real slowly once then just clicks. So, I replaced the battery, checked the starter and the starter relay and checked my fuses. I have also checked all of my grounds. Everything checks out ok, nevertheless, turn the key, it does nothing but click. When I say click, I mean it's clicking at the starter. Any ideas, I'm tired of messing with it! Thanks
turn the key, only hear a click!
- Thread starter white94
- Start date
Man...sounds like a ground??? I had same issue couple yrs back....Checked everything and all was cool, same as you did....I finally replaced the ground strap on the drivers side...Problem solved..It looked fine, but was torched... 
5.00 fix. The gages going wacky was the same for me too...
Did you happen to replace any ground straps or undo them and clean/reconnect???
Good luck with it....
5.00 fix. The gages going wacky was the same for me too...Did you happen to replace any ground straps or undo them and clean/reconnect???
Good luck with it....
Are you sure you just wash the car and not the entire engine compartment. Be honest now. The gauges were off, which means that the water most likely was effecting the connections and shorting to ground effecting the readings. The alternator which read nothing on the gauge could be toasted due to the water. If you did just wash the car and these are the conditions, then it is a connection. Most likely the green screws up by the battery. You can remove them and sand the paint off under them. I replaced the ring terminals and my problems went away. I had enough to get a little movement from the volt meter. When the lights were on the car just slowly drained and the battery would not start the car.
Everything under the hood is either polished or chrome, so believe me, I didn't take a pressure washer underneath there! I haven't had anything loose lately(fortunetely!) I will check the ground strap, I looked it over the other day to make sure it was tight, but I didn't take it loose or anything. Guess it's just a guessing game. Start cleaning ground and whatnot until I find it! Thanks for the help.
You're starter is gone!!!! I had the same probelm a few years ago. My car was starting fine but my temp gauge has showing way too high and my voltage gauge would show low.
Took it to the dealer twice and they couldn't figure out what the problem was. They said that my gauge cluster was screwed. It told them to stick it (and there $500 estimate)
Anyways, 1 week later my starter goes. Get it replaced and low and behold, my gauges are back to normal. My mechanic told me that when my starter was going it drew so much power than it was causing a ground fault with my gauges.
How many amps is your starter drawing????
Took it to the dealer twice and they couldn't figure out what the problem was. They said that my gauge cluster was screwed. It told them to stick it (and there $500 estimate)
Anyways, 1 week later my starter goes. Get it replaced and low and behold, my gauges are back to normal. My mechanic told me that when my starter was going it drew so much power than it was causing a ground fault with my gauges.
How many amps is your starter drawing????
I was always under the impression that the starter grounded itself by being bolted up to the bellhousing. The other end of the batter ground on my car attatches to the engine block. I did check the grounds that come off of the neg battery cable(the green screws) and even took off some paint and cleaned them up. Nothing! The only thing left for me to check would be the ground strap. I had it off about a year ago though and cleaned it up real good because I was having charging problems. Would it have trouble grounding that quickly? Thanks alot for the advice, I appreciate everyones input.
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