My truck won't start and it's making a clicking sound!

[Racheltheamazing2]

After I got out of work this afternoon, I got in my truck and heard a rapid clicking noise coming from under the glovebox. I heard the clicking as soon as I got in the truck, before I put the key in. I tried to start her up and the engine would not start. We tried jumping her too and no luck there. I drove to work just fine this morning, no problems at all. The battery is brand new, just put it in last month April 2018. I checked and I didn't leave the lights or radio on, but the AC was on high when I got out this morning. The clicking is coming from somewhere underneath or behind the glove box.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You have a bad battery or a bad battery connection. I had the same symptoms and it was a bad connection at the battery.

 

[Racheltheamazing2]

You have a bad battery or a bad battery connection. I had the same symptoms and it was a bad connection at the battery.

What can I do to get it started? It's stuck an hour away and I really don't want to have to pay to have it towed home if I can somehow get it started and get it home to my mechanic.

 

[Denisefwd93]

What can I do to get it started? It's stuck an hour away and I really don't want to have to pay to have it towed home if I can somehow get it started and get it home to my mechanic.

for the future, I highly recommend AAA unlimited towing, still a great deal in cost

For now, ask your mech to make a road trip.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Do you have another battery you can use? Make sure it's fully charged and then make sure all the connections are tight, at the battery and the other end of the wires too. Take a volt meter with you. A multi-meter set to dc volts will work, set it to 0 to 20 volts setting. Check battery voltage before starting, you should see over 12.4 volts. When the truck is running you should see 14.5 volts or more when first started, dropping down to about 13.5 at an idle and warmed up for a few minutes.
If all you see is battery voltage the same as when not running then the alternator isn't putting out. Could be as simple as a fuse. Might mean a new alternator.

 

[RonD]

Battery cable, since you just replaced the battery may be the positive or negative cable wasn't cleaned before reinstalling.

Take wire brush with you and clean terminals and cable ends then reconnect.
Follow both cable to where they connect to starter motor(+) and engine(-) and make sure they are tight connections

Also have a Volt Meter with you, just to make sure "new" battery is OK
New battery will be 12.8-13.0volts
Bad battery will be 12.2v or lower

New used to mean tested and working, some quality control
New now means "You test it for us, and we will replace it if it doesn't work", no quality control

So just because it is "new" doesn't mean it works, it just means it is cleaner on the outside than "old"
This applies to ALL "new" parts, not just batteries

 

[Will]

She said the clicking started before she put the key in.

What the hell? A mouse using the blower fan for exercise?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

That clicking has happened to me in my 98 f150. WAG; I believe the computer is going crazy because not enough volt/amps. Sit down and there is a seat-belt signal sent to the computer before the key is in....

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Did 2011 still use the fender/firewall solenoid? That could be it...