Clicking When Trying To Start, But Jump Leads Work?

[Atari Boy 11]

I know this has been covered recently but not quite like this.

My starter solenoid is playing (or so I thought), when trying to start the car I get a clicking sounds. But today I thought I would see if jump leads would help. Well, they did, started first time with no clicking.

The battery was showing 12 volts before hand and once running showed 14 volts, the alternator also showed 14 volts.

What’s up with it, is it the starter, wiring or something else?

 

Thanks

 

Jonny

[GLPoomobile 958]

Contrary to what your voltage readings show, I'd have guessed at a flat battery. I've found in the past that once the battery drops fairly low, when you try and crank it over all you get is a rapid clicking noise from down by the ECU (possibly the tachy relay clicking on and off).

[Lan 24 1 Cars]

I know this has been covered recently but not quite like this.

My starter solenoid is playing (or so I thought), when trying to start the car I get a clicking sounds. But today I thought I would see if jump leads would help. Well, they did, started first time with no clicking.

The battery was showing 12 volts before hand and once running showed 14 volts, the alternator also showed 14 volts.

What’s up with it, is it the starter, wiring or something else?

 

Thanks

 

Jonny

 

does it click and not start then you need to turn off the ignition and try to start the car again??

[Atari Boy 11]

does it click and not start then you need to turn off the ignition and try to start the car again??

 

I just tried that, it sort of turns over (just) then clicks again.

 

Thanks

 

Jonny

[M@tt 77]

the starter wire comes through the brown multiplug so make sure the terminals are all cleaned up as corroson there will cause increased resistance and cause a voltage drop therfore likely to cause the clicky solenoid you mentioned

[Lan 24 1 Cars]

I just tried that, it sort of turns over (just) then clicks again.

 

Thanks

 

Jonny

 

have you got a spare battery you could use to see if it starts on that??

[Atari Boy 11]

have you got a spare battery you could use to see if it starts on that??

 

I plan to charge up the battery and see if it starts (I suspect it will), then I will check the voltage each day and see if it looses voltage whilst in the garage standing still.

Then I will try and find the problem area, which might be an old alarm.

[Baz 421]

the starter wire comes through the brown multiplug so make sure the terminals are all cleaned up as corroson there will cause increased resistance and cause a voltage drop therfore likely to cause the clicky solenoid you mentioned

 

Common issue, lots of 205's i've seen with the start wiring replaced!

[philfingers 5]

you could try putting the jump leads between the battery on the car and the starter and engine block to see if it's the cables not making connection

[Atari Boy 11]

Good thinking, I had not thought of that, I will try that.

So I will link the positive terminal on the battery to the positive connector on the starter.

[taylorspug 7]

So the car started first time as soon as you put jump leads on your battery from another battery, is that what you are saying? If so then the battery is at fault, it showing 12v and 14v when running doesnt tell you the whole story. The battery on my sisters Tigra has recently died showing exactly the same symptoms as this.

[welshpug 1,657]

12v is a bit low, they should be at least 12.5, that half a volt makes a big difference!!

[jackherer 543]

it showing 12v and 14v when running doesnt tell you the whole story.

 

Exactly. Check the voltage while cranking and it will probably be well below 10 when the battery is actually placed under some significant load.

[Atari Boy 11]

The battery is 10 months old, and since then the car has done no more than 2,000 miles.

I have a battery charger/conditioner on order.

 

I will report back.

[Atari Boy 11]

I charged the battery up yesterday. I have just tried it and the battery is showing 13.48 volts.

It started a treat first time.

All I need to do now is work out what is draining the battery now.