Car won't crank, makes clicking noise
05-21-2015, 08:25 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 12
Car won't crank, makes clicking noise
I have a 2002 3.8l and it won't crank, when I turn the key you can hear a loud clicking from under the car which I'm 99% sure is the starter solenoid. I had the battery tested yesterday and it was fine and so I went ahead and bought a new starter from advanced auto and installed it yesterday and the exact same thing is happening. It is possible that the starter I got was defective out of the box because the one I got is remanufactured, but I don't know for sure that it is defective. Is there anything else that could be preventing this from starting? I want to be sure that the new starter is defective before I go through the hassle of removing it and sending it back on warranty.
05-22-2015, 07:22 AM
#7
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 90
A few things to check below:
Turn headlights on & turn key to start and watch lights, if they go real dim, check battery. If they remain bright continue checking.
Turn engine over by hand just to make sure it is not locked up
Perform voltage drop test on cables.
place one lead of voltmeter on battery+ terminal & the other lead on the bat terminal on starter. have someone try to start engine - meter should read <1 volt.
Perform the same test on the negative battery terminal - one lead on battery neg and one lead on chassis ground - have someone try to start engine - meter should read < 1 volt. Then move the chassis ground lead to engine ground, have someone try to start engine - meter should read < 1 volt.
If meter reads higher than 1 volt check your cables and connections for corrosion / damage.
Corky
Turn headlights on & turn key to start and watch lights, if they go real dim, check battery. If they remain bright continue checking.
Turn engine over by hand just to make sure it is not locked up
Perform voltage drop test on cables.
place one lead of voltmeter on battery+ terminal & the other lead on the bat terminal on starter. have someone try to start engine - meter should read <1 volt.
Perform the same test on the negative battery terminal - one lead on battery neg and one lead on chassis ground - have someone try to start engine - meter should read < 1 volt. Then move the chassis ground lead to engine ground, have someone try to start engine - meter should read < 1 volt.
If meter reads higher than 1 volt check your cables and connections for corrosion / damage.
Corky
05-22-2015, 07:35 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 12
The battery isn't the issue at the moment because it isn't dimming the headlights substantially and I tried to start it with the battery out of my dad's Dakota and that was to no avail. I'll try the voltage tests and cranking by hand this afternoon and I'll report back
05-22-2015, 07:36 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 12
The battery isn't the issue at the moment because it isn't dimming the headlights substantially and I tried to start it with the battery out of my dad's Dakota and that was to no avail. I'll try the voltage tests and cranking by hand this afternoon and I'll report back
thanks for all the help everyone I really appreciate it!
thanks for all the help everyone I really appreciate it!
