Car died...clicking from behind center console

[junior929rr]

I've searched and wasn't able to find an answer...maybe someone can shed some light.

Friday night I took my car out and stopped at a store for two minutes. I came out and my car wouldn't start...no interior lights, no power anywhere, as if the battery was disconnected. I checked the battery terminals and everything was tight. Kept trying to start it with no success...then magically it starts. I figured I would drive the car home and park it. I drove out of the parking lot towards an intersection and my car dies as I am driving it. Same thing, no power what-so-ever. I try repeatedly to start it...no luck. There was a clicking from behind the center console that would not stop until I opened the door. I could not see what was making the noise, but with both side panels off was able to feel around and find behind the passenger side of the radio the clicking was coming from what I believe was a relay.

I had the car flat bedded home and when the car was being unloaded I noticed my dash lights were now on. I tried the key and it started no problem.

Any ideas?

 

[Lofty]

I've searched and wasn't able to find an answer...maybe someone can shed some light.

Friday night I took my car out and stopped at a store for two minutes. I came out and my car wouldn't start...no interior lights, no power anywhere, as if the battery was disconnected. I checked the battery terminals and everything was tight. Kept trying to start it with no success...then magically it starts. I figured I would drive the car home and park it. I drove out of the parking lot towards an intersection and my car dies as I am driving it. Same thing, no power what-so-ever. I try repeatedly to start it...no luck. There was a clicking from behind the center console that would not stop until I opened the door. I could not see what was making the noise, but with both side panels off was able to feel around and find behind the passenger side of the radio the clicking was coming from what I believe was a relay.

I had the car flat bedded home and when the car was being unloaded I noticed my dash lights were now on. I tried the key and it started no problem.

Any ideas?

One or more of your relays are bad. When you hear the clicking, go check the relay box, put your hand on them and find out which one is clicking.
This should fix your problems.

 

[wibblersnatch]

The first thing I would do is have the battery charged and tested. The relay that was clicking sounds like it's the MPI relay. From my experience it sounds like your ECU might be crapping out. Pull it and take a close look at it for leaky caps.

 

[DevilDoug]

could it be a shorted battery wire? or loose connections on the relay box? bad ground? the clicking is definitally a relay, you have to find out which one.

 

[gofer]

thats the starter relay clicking... its trying to tell you its going out.

 

[junior929rr]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I am going to dig into it this weekend...still confused as to why this relay behind the center console would click until I opened the door. With the doors open there is no clicking, but when the doors are shut it continues to click?

I love electrical issues!

 

[junior929rr]

Fixed!

I had the battery tested and voltage and cold cranking amps were fine. I put the battery back in the car (fully charged) and no change. Just for fun I put a jump pack on the car to see if it would start...started right up. Without the jump pack it wouldn't start...and the battery read 12.xx volts. I went to do a voltage drop test and while touching both positive and negative terminals with the multimeter leads it would start. I used a wire brush on the negative terminal and clamp. Now it starts every time!! There was no corrosion, maybe a SLIGHT film...strange. Anyway, it works!! Thanks for the responses!

 

[Lofty]

Fixed!

I had the battery tested and voltage and cold cranking amps were fine. I put the battery back in the car (fully charged) and no change. Just for fun I put a jump pack on the car to see if it would start...started right up. Without the jump pack it wouldn't start...and the battery read 12.xx volts. I went to do a voltage drop test and while touching both positive and negative terminals with the multimeter leads it would start. I used a wire brush on the negative terminal and clamp. Now it starts every time!! There was no corrosion, maybe a SLIGHT film...strange. Anyway, it works!! Thanks for the responses!

Happy you figured it out man!

Best of luck.

 

[djordan97]

sounds to me like you have a floating short in your battery. if it does it again try shaking your battery. if it starts after you shake it then you need to replace the battery.