Starter Problem?

[HighLatency]

Ok, the car was running great earlier today, but when I went to go start it a few minutes ago when I tried to turn the car over I heard a very rapid clicking and all the dash lights flashed on and off in a rapid interval for as long as the key was held in the start position...

I checked the voltage at the battery and it had 11.7 volts. I checked the wiring with a volt meter as best I could without taking anything apart and all the wiring looks good to the starter.

What gives!? The constant flashing dash lights and clicking is strange... The clicking sound sounds like the throttle body opening and closing rapidly but I'm not sure.

The car has ~130K and as far as I know the starter is the original. If you guy's think it's the starter I can pick one up and replace it...

In other cars that I've had a bad starter on I would get a single click and no start, not a continuous rapid clicking while the key was held in the start position.

In the past few months I have had some intermittent slow / tough starts...

Any advice?

[vdubbugman53]

battery i bet you need a new one...11.7 is low....i bet when you turn the key she drops to 11 and that can not start a car. Try jump starting her if she starts you may want to look in to a battery

[veedub00]

mine is doing the exact same thing. I think its time for a new battery.

[HighLatency]

Thanks for the responses guy's!

Yesterday I tried to start the car and it turned over fine. I did some more testing and I was able to sucessfuly start the car about 15 times, so I believe the starter is fine. One time the car started to click, but after about 3 seconds the car turned over. I measured the voltage in the system with the car idling and saw 12.6 volts at the battery. With the car off I was still seeing 11.8 volts.

The battery is less than a year old and the service manual said there should be ~14.0 volts in the system with the car running, so perhaps my alternator is on it's way out and not charging the battery enough?

The car had been sitting for a little over a week so I'm going to check the voltage in the system with the car running and check the battery voltage with the car off when I get home from work. (~100 mile commute roundtrip)

[vdubbugman53]

yea 12.6 is low....i usually see about 13.7 i cant even get 12.6 if i turn all my lights on and rear window defroster and heater on 4. Could still be a bad battery though. the battery could be sucking up the all the juice. take it to your local autoparts store; they should test it for free and let you know if it is good or not.

[macdave]

You should check the connections on the battery, ground strap and alternator. One of them could be dirty or loose.
Just about any auto parts shop should be able to test the battery to see if it is the problem.

[AbuNigel]

This sounds quite like the problem I'm having
Only difference is the ignition switch just got changed at the mechanic, along with a battery check, oil change, and a couple other standard services. I just got back from it not starting in the mechanic parking lot
I think it's something in the alarm system maybe?
When i turn the key i hear a rapid clicking from the engine but i also faintly hear some goings ons in the door panels, i'm guessing something is going on with the locks.
any ideas or help greatly appreciated

[Toad]

the loud clicking is the starter solenoid failing to engage the starter. this usually happens when the voltage is too low. So it's either the battery, alternator, or a loose connection.

[AbuNigel]

Originally Posted by Toad

the loud clicking is the starter solenoid failing to engage the starter. this usually happens when the voltage is too low. So it's either the battery, alternator, or a loose connection.

also tried jump starting it for quite some time. That didn't work either.
Think it's the alternator?

[Toad]

if jumping it doesnt work its either the starter or a loose connection

[AbuNigel]

starter got changed last year I think, doubt it would be that.
And with these things, how can it be explained that the mechanics seemingly started it and moved it out of the garage into a parking spot with no problems Ive heard of, and now it won't start?

[Toad]

well, if you're getting the solenoid clicking, you can rile out the immobilizer keeping the car from running the starter, because its trying to.

make sure your battery terminals are clean and tight. the wire going from the battery to the starter is in good shape and is tight and clean on the starter. the battery's ground wire is secured well to the chassis, and the starter is grounded well. i think it might ground to the engine so make sure the ground straps from the engine to the body are clean and secure.

[AbuNigel]

mmm, ok, I'll try that when i get the chance. The only last thing is hearing the locks fidgeting when i have the key turned. Am i just crazy?

[simonsi]

Originally Posted by AbuNigel

starter got changed last year I think, doubt it would be that.
And with these things, how can it be explained that the mechanics seemingly started it and moved it out of the garage into a parking spot with no problems Ive heard of, and now it won't start?

Intermittant bad connection on the starter or starter solenloid circuit would do just that. So would a bad winding section on the starter motor itself.

[Pseudotropheus]

If the alternator is working, you will get 13.5-15.5 volts out of the voltage.

At 11.7 your battery is low. the specific gravity and electrolyte level of the battery maybe ok. Do an electrolyte test on the battery.

Run an amp test on the alternator, should be pushing between 90-97 amps. Anything over 100 it might be overcharging. Anything less then 90, it aint charging enough. if its over charging, check for bulging in your battery. That will tell you, that the battery and alternator needs replacing.

Run the test. There hardly ever wrong.

[AbuNigel]

Apparently the battery totally died during the repairs or something. They gave it a new one, running well once again!