wont start.. loud clicking

[jons4real]

My car wont start. If turns over for about 20 seconds then stops and just clicks. There is plenty of power, all lights work. So I think the battery is fine. Dash lights blink with clicking. Clicking is loud. Just installed a new starter this year. Need help.

It started for about 3 secs then just shut off. Its almost like the serp belt froze or something but I dont know how that would make a clicking noise.

[jd-autotech]

try tapping on the starter and see if it starts if so the bendex is sticking and its new starter time

[jons4real]

I thought about it tapping it but its new.... I know it could still be bad. I really cant get to it right now.

[jd-autotech]

also check ur connections at the starter and battery make sure cables are tight and connections are clean

[jons4real]

I did check the battery conections but I cant get to the starter right now.

[jons4real]

Do you think I can hurt anything if I keep trying to start it?

[jd-autotech]

just wear down your battery and ur patience, but there has to be a reason for it so i would nt ignore it if it does start.

[jons4real]

Its jsut driving me crazy because I was about to take my other van to the shop in the morning... Now this happened.

[jons4real]

Ok so I checked the battery cables again and everything seems to be just fine and tight. I took alook at all the pullies and they are all turning. The ligths do go out while the key is being turned.

[Smitty's Buick]

Might be a bad battery. I've had internal cells go bad and do everything but start the car. Take it out and run it to Autozone and have them test it.
Smitty's Buick

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by jons4real

My car wont start. If turns over for about 20 seconds then stops and just clicks. There is plenty of power, all lights work. So I think the battery is fine. Dash lights blink with clicking. Clicking is loud. Just installed a new starter this year. Need help.

It started for about 3 secs then just shut off. Its almost like the serp belt froze or something but I dont know how that would make a clicking noise.

Put a voltmeter across the battery while someone cranks it. The voltage is supposted to stay up in the 9.5 and higher range if I am in the right numbers without looking it up in a FSM.

And you can do a voltage drop test on the main cable to the starter to see how much differential there is while the starter is drawing high current.

Did you take apart the positive cables at the battery and check for corrosion between them and along the upper part of the plastic covered cables?

I'm with the poster suggesting your battery may be at fault or your starter--or your cable may be deteriorated.

[jons4real]

Originally Posted by Smitty's Buick

Might be a bad battery. I've had internal cells go bad and do everything but start the car. Take it out and run it to Autozone and have them test it.
Smitty's Buick

Yup... the car is running and the battery had to be replaced. I had it tested and they told me there was abad cell. So I went to replace it where I bought it at Autozone and they tested it again. They said it was fine and just needed charged...ok so I charged it and everything was fine. I went back again and had the alt test and they said the battery was dying fast so it was the battery. I guess time will tell if the alt is bad or not. I will know if the new battery is dead in a week if it was the real problem. The best part, the battery had a three year free replacement and an 8 year prorated price. I was on year 4 so the $100 battery only cost me $41...

[maxwedge]

As usual basic diagnsoitcs found the problem!