Check gages light/trouble with starter/car not starting

I have a 1995 Plymouth Voyager (3.3L, V6) and yesterday the van all of a sudden stopped starting. All I heard when I turned the key to start the car was a "click click click click click" sound. What I noticed was that the "Check Gages" light was on which has never been on before, the oil meter on the dashboard was completely at the lowest level and the battery meter was as well.

I thought it was the starter, though, because it sounded like that's what it was. Well, today I took out the starter and was going to buy a new one at AutoZone but I had them check it first to make sure it was dead. Well, the starter actually passed 2 of the three tests-- it didn't pass the last one, which was the solenoid test. But since it passed 2 out of the three I actually thought it may be the battery. So guess what? I put the starter back in the car and tried to start it up again but no juice...it didn't even make the clicking sound--- no sound whatsoever. So that kind of reinforced my thinking that it may have been the battery because all the times I had been trying to start up the car may have sucked out what little juice was left in the battery. Well, I took the battery out and went back to AutoZone to have them check the battery. It wasn't dead "per se" but the test showed that it had a very weak charge. So I actually bought a new battery and figured that would have cured the problem.

I got the battery in the car and it didn't start. Again, no clicking sound whatsoever. I have no idea what the problem could be. Maybe the problem actually is the starter? There's only so many things that it could be and this just doesn't make sense now. It wouldn't be the alternator, right, because I just bought a brand new battery? The spark plugs were recently changed as well. Oh, I also filled up the oil but that didn't do anything. I don't think it could be the fuel pump-- I've had the fuel pump gone out on a car before and this doesn't seem like that's the problem.

Any ideas? I'm having it towed to a car place tomorrow morning anyway, but I was just wondering what anyone else thought.

Easy to find the problem if you have and can use a multimeter. It's not hard to learn how and one can be had for $10. If you're getting 12vdc both at the primary battery connection and solenoid connections at the starter with the key at start, then your starter is bad at it's likely the solenoid contacts that are causing the headache. The contacts are easy to change and generally cost half the price of a good starter. Short of all that, turn the key to start and tap the starter with a hammer. If it starts, change the starter or the contacts.

The Autozone tech that tested your starter should have told you to replace the Solenoid. If it passed the 2 of three tests, and it didn't pass the solenoid test, that is most likely your problem. Changing the battery was ok if it was weak, but the alternator does not affect starting. I would take the starter back out, change the solenoid, and put it back in. That should cure your problem. If not, it will be with the starter relay under the hood, in the relay box, next to the battery. I really believe it is the solenoid though.

Your started failed one of it's tests and the Autozone guy didn't say you need a new one? You put it back on knowing the solenoid was bad?

I've had this problem before and it was usually related to getting juice to the starter. I've a '97 Grand Voyager, and often the problem was related to either a loose battery cable, corroded cables, or undercharged battery. If there was a lack of power, the lights may come on, but there isn't enough amperage able to crank the starter, resulting in the 'click click click'... I believe it was pushing the solenoid, but the motor can't crank the flywheel.

The solenoid is one of the most important parts of the starter... it makes the contact to run the starter motor. Another problem I've had is getting the starter to work but find out the solenoid (or motor) would get stuck. I once had someone hit the starter on the back with a hammer while trying to crank it, and it finally started. In this case I replaced the starter and haven't had a problem with the starter since.