'Click' 'Click' on trying to start

[Whatmot]

i had this problem for the last few weeks and its gradually getting worse. im sure you heard it before, i turn the key to start and all i hear is the solenoid (i think) clicking but it doesnt start. ive read back quite some posts, and from them i have put it down to these to things:

Battery Terminals
Starter Switch

ive just been outside and checked the battery and the terminals and they look fine, so i can only assume its the starter switch unless somebodies got any other suggestions

extra info: when it does turn over, it starts straight away. starter is less that 3 months old and battery 13 months old

 

[Deleted Member]

Could it be the solenoid,maybe it's engaging but not turning it over!!
I'm sure someone who knows better will be along soon :lol: :lol:

 

[dinky]

Check main lead to starter for breakage ,comon problem mine broke last week.

 

[Bat21]

Tom, check the connection where the live wire from the battery attaches to the starter (it's the big wire about 10mm thick)

In a normal situation when you turn the key what is happening is the solenoid (which is nothing more than a heavy duty switch) connects two connections, from the battery to the actual starter which causes the starter to spin.

If the solenoid is clicking then it sounds fine and means it will not be the low current side.

You say it has recently had a new starter, my guess is the large wire has become loose as it was recently disturbed.

Good luck

Edit.... bugger I typed all that and Dinky beat me to it and said the same in one line

 

[rsaddo]

Had the same prob a couple of weeks back and it was both battery terminals negative had worked loose and the positive had broken at the 10mm lead :wink:

 

[metalguru]

Hi, have you also tried earth leads where attached to body/engine - could be corroded under connection.

 

[elty001]

click,click on starting

does it kill all the lights on the dash when u try to start.if so its the same problem i had with mine.a small plastic switch on the underside of the ignition has broke.if i'm gentle with the key she fires up staight away but if not she just dies.been told they are about £35 quid from nissan but ive still not done mine yet as i have mastered the key turn(lazy i know)but its just a list of need to do's i haven't done.

 

[elty001]

click,click on starting

ive just had a brain wave 8O i work next to a ford dealer so i will pop into the parts depo tomoz an see if they can match the part(he owes me a few favors)will let you know the outcome asap.

 

[Whatmot]

Update

i checked the battery terminals the other day again, and they all seem ok, but as a measure i gave them a good 'wiggle' and sprayed them with some wd40 to clean any dirt off away. the problem still persisted so i decided to remove the ignition switch and mis-mantle it.

here is some advise for people who are thinking of doing this. i am quite handy with electronics, and enjoy fiddling with things so have a good eye and a lot of patience. even after all of this i would NEVER recommend dismantling the ignition switch, one because it didnt help my problem at all, but mostly because it took 3 seconds to pull a part, and what felt like 3 hours putting it back together :lol: dont get me wrong, its very simple mechanism, just a bloody pain to get right when you put it back together.

anyway, like i said, pulling it apart made no change to the starting. so earlier on this afternoon, after i finished work i popped down the breakers yard, found a ford maverick, removed the switch and just now finished fitting it to my mav, and at first it seems to of worked, but i wont know for sure until it doesnt :lol:

thanks for everyone comments, ill shout if i still have a problem

 

[Whatmot]

as you can see from my last post, changing the ignition switch sorted my problem, but during the last few days the problem has come back :x it took me 5 attempts yesterday to get it to start. i have no idea what it could be this time