turn key, car clicks but doesnt turn over

[beatshack]

hey, before defiant tells me to search, i did seach, read up on atleast 15 threads relating to the same problem i have..

i currently drive a 90 TSi, and have a 1994 talon ES (auto) as my backup car (in my sig)... well my TSi is in the shop and my backup car wont start..

it clicks clicks clicks, but then soon dies out.. tried to boost it with another car, just clicks forever..

the weird thing is i started it just 3 weeks ago fine.... with the car off, i put the shifter in Neutral, rolled the car up about a meter, put it back into park and left it for 3 weeks... would this have anything to do with the no-start situation? tomorrow morning i will sand all the terminals, and grounds etc.... my battery does have some weird lime type stuff (white greenish powder building up on the tie down and a bit on the ground terminal) on it...

 

[dmndstrsfrevr80]

First off, have you put a multi-meter on the battery to check for correct voltage? The lime stuff on the battery (corrosion) probably isn't the cause of the problem, but it would be a good idea to get some battery terminal cleaner and a wire brush to spiff it up a bit. Next, check your connections at the starter itself. You have a ground wire on the top bolt of the starter on the bellhousing, you've got your power on the S-terminal, and your exciter on the toungue connector. Make sure all those connections are tight and there is no corrosion on them. Finally, make sure your starter relay on the nuetral safety switch(you said automatic, right?) is OK. If all of these components check out, problem lies within the starter and should be replaced.

 

[Defiant]

Your battery's dead. It may be the result of a dead alternator, but it's more likely just at the end of its service life.
Clean the terminals and grounding points as well.

 

[InFlames]

First off, have you put a multi-meter on the battery to check for correct voltage? The lime stuff on the battery (corrosion) probably isn't the cause of the problem, but it would be a good idea to get some battery terminal cleaner and a wire brush to spiff it up a bit. Next, check your connections at the starter itself. You have a ground wire on the top bolt of the starter on the bellhousing, you've got your power on the S-terminal, and your exciter on the toungue connector. Make sure all those connections are tight and there is no corrosion on them. Finally, make sure your starter relay on the nuetral safety switch(you said automatic, right?) is OK. If all of these components check out, problem lies within the starter and should be replaced.

I agree, it's probably the starter.

 

[h3o]

sounds like the solenoid or the relay or just a plain dead battery

 

[beatshack]

hmmm... so if my battery was done, end of its life, a boost wouldn't start the car? arg.. i'm going out to go through the list of things... also my interior lights would randomly turn on and off, and my ecu (around that area anyway) clicks at the same time...

i'm going out to cross things off the checklist. thx for the replies

 

[Arod]

If a battery is really dead a boost from another car probably won't help a boost from a truck would. But if your connections are dirty/corroded which it sounds like they are it won't start. Clean all connections!!!! I bet it will start without a boost after that. I don't know how many vehicles i've seen that would start then by only cleaning battery connections they started like normal.

 

[beatshack]

well, i cleaned all the connections, grounds, etc, and turned the key, this time nothing... turned the key to accessory, my cd player worked, but as i turned up the volume it would turn off.. so the battery itself is just TOAST! i tried boosting it again with my dads van, it wouldnt even click this time... so i connected the booster cables directly to my ground wire and the power wire (just off the terminals) and it started no problem.. so i'm thinking that my termial connectors are crap too.. anyway.. i know it wont start if i turn it off, so i'm going to canadian tire to get a battery right now and install it in the parking lot.

 

[beatshack]

yeah the battery itself was fine... just wasn't getting charge from the alternator properly due to horrible connections.. its all good now, thanks for the replies. cost of fix: $3.49 battery connectors

 

[1gentalonfan]

Ive had a lot of friends with this same problem try turning the key forward to the on position and then shift into drive and rock the car back and forth then shift back into park and try to start it again. I think this problem has something ot do with the starter silinoid and if you move it it may reengage again but if that wroks obviously get the starteer replkaced very soon as to prevent further problems.