No start, no crank, but clicks
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 3
From: Central OK
No start, no crank, but clicks
Hi guys! I've been cruising around in my baby for a while now, just enjoying the ride. Until last month. One days she just wouldn't start. The dash would come alive, then she would click when I turned her key, but not crank. It's like I have a bad battery but the batteries are both new and test out well. What's my next step?
I'm thinking starter solenoid, but I'd like some input before I start blowing through the green stuff.
I'm thinking starter solenoid, but I'd like some input before I start blowing through the green stuff.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 834
Likes: 125
From: CSRA, SC
The click is your sign the starter solenoid is working. Is the connection to the block from the battery negative tight? The positive to the starter post? It sounds like a loose connection. That is IF the batteries are genuinely good.
If you have a voltmeter handy have someone try to crank it and measure the battery terminal voltage. They'll have to hold it at the start position a couple seconds for a good reading if you're using a digital meter.
If you have a voltmeter handy have someone try to crank it and measure the battery terminal voltage. They'll have to hold it at the start position a couple seconds for a good reading if you're using a digital meter.
Got Data?
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,250
Likes: 1,382
From: Lake Stevens, WA
That starter relay might click but not conduct (high resistance). You can jumper across the big terminals to bypass it and see if the starter spins the motor. Or use a pair of jumper cables and connect the positive side to a battery positive terminal, and touch the other positive clamp to the starter side of the relay.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 3
From: Central OK
That starter relay might click but not conduct (high resistance). You can jumper across the big terminals to bypass it and see if the starter spins the motor. Or use a pair of jumper cables and connect the positive side to a battery positive terminal, and touch the other positive clamp to the starter side of the relay.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 1,065
From: Douglassville, PA
Is it one click or click, click, click in rapid succession? What year is your truck? Up to '01 there is a relay on the passenger's side fender that makes for a good place to start troubleshooting.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 3
From: Central OK
Thanks Walleye! I found the relay and put positive terminal juice to the unbooted side. it acted the same as if I had turned the key. I just clicked. It only clicks once, not multiple times like a dead battery.
I'm still thinking solenoid or maybe transmission lockout.
I'm still thinking solenoid or maybe transmission lockout.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 834
Likes: 125
From: CSRA, SC
One click can mean dead battery just as much as multiple clicks. It just means that whatever is limiting your current isn't pulling down the battery voltage so much that the starter solenoid drops out and comes right back (over n over n...). There is enough juice to hold it in, but not enough to turn the engine. There is high resistance somewhere. You have to find it.
Did you check the engine block ground location? Did you check the battery voltage sag while key-start?
Potential sources for high resistance:
Unusually high battery internal resistance
Loose battery terminals
Loose starter nut
Loose block ground bolt
Damaged contacts in starter solenoid
Damaged/open starter windings
Did you check the engine block ground location? Did you check the battery voltage sag while key-start?
Potential sources for high resistance:
Unusually high battery internal resistance
Loose battery terminals
Loose starter nut
Loose block ground bolt
Damaged contacts in starter solenoid
Damaged/open starter windings
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 1,065
From: Douglassville, PA
Thanks Walleye! I found the relay and put positive terminal juice to the unbooted side. it acted the same as if I had turned the key. I just clicked. It only clicks once, not multiple times like a dead battery.
I'm still thinking solenoid or maybe transmission lockout.
I'm still thinking solenoid or maybe transmission lockout.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 3
From: Central OK
You are hitting that beyond the transmission lockout so your problem lies between your relay and the starter. You are saying that you jumped battery to the starter side of the relay if I understand correctly. What clicks? If you jump the relay with a large screwdriver do you get good arcing?
I'll jump the relay and see the arcing tomorrow when i can get back to the truck.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 3
From: Central OK
Yeah, I thought there should be one, but looking at parts places online I didn't see one for sale. Turns out they sell it as a whole now, starter and all. My local dealership wants TWO FIDDY. Holy mackerel! It better sort out my taxes for that price!
Part number is F4TZ-11002-ARM
Found it for 152 shipped on Ebay though, so it should be here soon.
Part number is F4TZ-11002-ARM
Found it for 152 shipped on Ebay though, so it should be here soon.