starting trouble
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Joined: Jan 2003
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starting trouble
Last night, I stopped by a store on the way home from work. My truck wouldn't start when I came out about 15 minutes later. It would turn over very sluggishly, but no real starting power. Strong electrical smell was present. Waited a few minutes then it started, but it was still sluggish turning over.
This morning, I went out and turned the key and all I get is a loud clicking noise.
Could a starter that is going bad be affected by heat from the engine running at operating temperature (the cause of last nights problem) and now go bad for good? Or could I have two semi-unrelated problems?
Jon Blakemore
'91 F150 302
This morning, I went out and turned the key and all I get is a loud clicking noise.
Could a starter that is going bad be affected by heat from the engine running at operating temperature (the cause of last nights problem) and now go bad for good? Or could I have two semi-unrelated problems?
Jon Blakemore
'91 F150 302
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,415
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From: Comox Valley, Canada
starting trouble
The loud clicking sound is probably the starter relay chattering as there isnt enough voltage available from the battery to keep it closed. Usually, but not always, means a dead battery.
Try another battery if you have one....or better yet use a jumper cable connected to the battery + terminal and touch the other end to the starter relay rear large terminal.
If the starter turns the battery is ok and so is the starter.
If it doesnt turn could be the starter, but 9 times out of 10 it is the battery due to the afore mentioned clicking.
Electrical smells are not good as most times they are caused by insulation burning up.
Before you try any checks do a good visual inspection of the wiring, battery, starter for obvious signs of over-heating. Otherwise you may ruin a replacement battery or worse yet cause a small fire which could do big $$$$$ damage.
Good luck.
Try another battery if you have one....or better yet use a jumper cable connected to the battery + terminal and touch the other end to the starter relay rear large terminal.
If the starter turns the battery is ok and so is the starter.
If it doesnt turn could be the starter, but 9 times out of 10 it is the battery due to the afore mentioned clicking.
Electrical smells are not good as most times they are caused by insulation burning up.
Before you try any checks do a good visual inspection of the wiring, battery, starter for obvious signs of over-heating. Otherwise you may ruin a replacement battery or worse yet cause a small fire which could do big $$$$$ damage.
Good luck.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,951
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From: Virginia
starting trouble
We had a forklift in the factory I worked at, that was brought to the shop because it wouldn't start. I lifted the seat and swung the battery out, and the positive cable wasn't attached to the battery. Looking a little closer I noticed the positive terminal of the battery was gone! The large positive cable had gotten against the frame, and had got so hot, the positive post had completely melted away into a blob of metal. I guess when that happened, it broke the circuit. That was a humbling experience to say the least.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Midwest
starting trouble
Check the ground from the negative cable to the frame. They are very small wire and known for getting hot and burning up. Easy fix, use some bigger wire, jumper cable sized or a little smaller. You can also check the ground to the starter, same problem and the same reason. My truck did a similar thing and it was the smaller wire.
