I experienced a problem this morning while attempting to start my truck. I get plenty of juice from the battery, but the engine will not turn over. All I hear is a loud repeated clacking from the right side of the engine. I am assuming that my starter is not engaging. Does this sound reasonable.

If so, how difficult/expensive is it to replace the starter? Could it just be the starter solenoid? Is this something that I should get a mechanic to do, or can a very below average mechanic (me) do it?

I read on another post that there is one bolt on the top of the starter that is difficult to access. Does anyone know of a trick to get there, or does it just take patience and determination?

Also, are there other parts (relays, etc.) that I should be considering?

 

The repeated clicking usually means that there's not enough amperage from the battery.

 

If you pull the starter and take it to Napa/Pep Boys (whatever is around you) they will test the starter for you. I bought a brand new one not too long ago for $200. I'd advise against a rebuilt one. The top bolt is the toughest one, you'll need a couple different length socket extensions. Reach it from on top of the starer from behind the starter. Don't forget to disconnect the neg. from the battery before you start.

 

Can the parts store chech the starter with it in the truck? I was planning to push start the truck and drive it in. Obviously, I would rather find out if it is the starter before I go to the trouble to remove it.

As for the amperage idea, what can be done about that and/or what could cause it to happen all of a sudden?

 

I guess you could try jumping it with another battery or put in a new (or newer) battery.

 

I will give that a try before I take out the starter. Thanks.

 

When my starter went bad in November, there was no sound at all.
When my alternator went bad in March, there was clicking but no start.
My battery light had been coming on when accelerating rapidly, then started
staying on all the time towards the end. Swapped the alternator, truck started
right up. Then tackled the other codes: IAC, EGR, EGR Ports, MAS Sensor.
No codes, running and gunning thanks to FTE. Good luck.

 

You have to take the starter off for the parts store to test it. They have a machine in the store that puts a load on it. I would try the other battery idea first. Or just try jumping it with another vehicle. If it starts right up then its probably the battery or the alternator. I have had that clicking sound from a really dead battery. If it does start then turn on the headlights and radio and rev the engine. If the lights dim then its probably the alternator. I believe the parts store can also test the alternator when its in the truck. If after you try jumping it, it still just clicks and doesn't start try taping the starter with a pipe or hammer while someone cranks the engine. If it starts then its the starter. To test the starter relay turn the ignition on then cross the two large posts on the front of the starter relay with a screwdriver. If it starts then its the relay.

 

Repeated clicking of the solenoid is usually a sign of either a weak battery, bad connections on the battery cables or bag grounds from the battery to chassis/engine.

 

Thanks for all of the info, folks.

As an update, I lined up a couple of guys to go over and help me push start the truck so that I could drive it to the parts store to test the starter (this was before I saw the last post from stantojl). Based on the other posts, though, I planned to try jumping the battery before I even did that. I bought some jumper cables, picked up the two guys and went to tackle the truck. When we got back to my house to jump start the truck, I decided to give it one more try before doing anything. Lo and behold, the truck clicked about 3 or 4 times real quick and then fired right up. I shut it down and cranked it several more times with no issue. No clicking.

Based on your post, lxman1, I am guessing that I have a bad connection on one of my battery cables. I have to clean one of the posts every now and then because it builds up a whitish/greenish powdery substance over time. I had to jump my truck about a week ago (my son left the key turned on while goofing around in the truck) and I noticed then that there was a thin film of the corrosion on the post.

Does the ongoing corrosion on that post indicate that I am due for a new battery? Exactly what is the cause of the corrosion, btw?

 

I've never had any problems with a rebuilt starter. You can save some serious cash that way.

 

cwgoff did you get it figured out yet?

 

Well, I haven't so much got it figured out as much as the problem just went away. Since my last post, the truck has been starting just fine. I am going to take a look at the battery in the morning, but other than some corrosion on one of the posts, I do not know of any problem that I should expect to find.

Does repeated corrosion on a post indicate time to get a new battery? What causes the corrosion, btw?

Right now I am just planning to clean the terminal and go with it. If the consensus is that my battery's days are numbered, I will start looking for a sale on batteries.

 

Corrosion is just one of those things that happens. Cleaning battery terminals should be a part of regular maintenance.
While you're at it I would also check and clean the terminals on the starter too.