trying to start and... click click click

[bert296]

i went out to start my truck this morning it started to turnover and then stopped and now it just goes click sounds like its coming from behind the dash on the drivers side or firewall area. i figured a solenoid so i tried crossing it it didnt do anything. any ideas??

 

[Ak907Girl]

Uh, battery. Lol. Check all the basic stuff first. Whats the temp where you are? If its trying to turnover and just clicking, that screams battery.

 

[bert296]

no its not the battery and its probably like 20 degrees out its not a continous clicking like a dead battery just when i try to start it one single click let off the key and try again it does it again click once

 

[Ak907Girl]

20 degrees is the temp where its recomended to plug in your vehicle for at least 15 minutes, mostly for emissions. Have you checked all the basic stuff? Usually when my truck doesnt wanna start a good tap on the fuse box and she starts right up.

 

[adsm08]

Starter.

 

[bert296]

adsm08 u think the starter is bad? can u explain y u think that? ive tried banging on the fuse box and nothing still just clicks. its rather annoying i need to drive it to work in the morning and theres no parts store open here on sundays

 

[CHKNFKR]

is it a click or a thud? if it's a click I'm with akgirl, check your battery again. if it's a thud, I'm with adsm, check the starter.

 

[88SXT]

is the solenoid seperate from the starter on that model/year like it is on the first gens? if so check the connection on the starter,... i had this problem not too long after i bought my truck, come to find out the jack@$$ who had it before me lost the nut and bolt so he zip-tied the wire on.

 

[bert296]

ya the solenoid is on the driver side fender i havent checked the conections yet its cold out and snow on the ground and i dont have a garage to put it in. i think thats my next step tho

 

[bert296]

i had a friend tow me down the road and jumped started it came home and shut it off started right back up fine 5 or 6 times in a row. anybody have a clue whats wrong now??

 

[LIMA BEAN]

With the cooler temps any moisture you had may be freezing like in the soliniod. Also just because your battery connections appear ok they may not be, disconnect them and clean them for good measure.

 

[adsm08]

adsm08 u think the starter is bad? can u explain y u think that? ive tried banging on the fuse box and nothing still just clicks. its rather annoying i need to drive it to work in the morning and theres no parts store open here on sundays

With a single click your options are battery. I'm not there to test your battery, but you insisted it was ok. That leaves starter.

BUT since your buddy jumped it and it started, your battery is going bad. I'd get a new one quick.

 

[bert296]

With a single click your options are battery. I'm not there to test your battery, but you insisted it was ok. That leaves starter.

BUT since your buddy jumped it and it started, your battery is going bad. I'd get a new one quick.

we jumped meaning we pushed it down a hill and poped the clutch and it started NOT boosted it witch would be using booster cables truck to truck like i think u think we did.

i still dont think its the battery when it wouldnt start the headlights worked and were bright and radio and the heater all worked my friend and i came up with maybe the starter was stuck out in the fly wheel? anybody think that could be it??

 

[CHKNFKR]

What you described is referred to as hill starting. What you call boosting is referred to as jump starting, done with jumper cables.

your headlights and radio use considerably less power than your starter does.

test the battery.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Yep, definitely check the battery.

I had an issue a few years ago where the truck would not start if it got below 10 degrees. it got worse, and soon it was below 25 degrees it would not start. I would hear a series of clicks like it was a dead battery, but the battery was fine.

I replaced the fender solenoid, still no go.

looked at the starter the next time it did it, I found that if I took my wifes hair dryer and warmed up the starter it would start every time. So, if the battery and solenoid are good, you might try that trick.

AJ