Starter solenoid bad? Clicking, not cranking

[Florian]

Hey all,

wanted to drive my bump to my shop to finally add antifreeze today. I pulled the choke out and stepped on the gas pedal once then I wanted to start it. It turned over for a second and then stopped. Felt like the starter was kicking back. After that the starter didn't turn again, all I get now is a clicking noise from the starter solenoid.

The starter is a new RobbMc high torque mini starter. All the wires are new and are in perfect condition. Starter worked fine since I installed it. Drove the truck in the rain for the first time with the new engine the last two days. Maybe water got into something electrical? I don't know how old my battery is, but it always worked well. Alternator output was ca. 14 volts. Alternator is old, but also worked fine.

Here is a video of the clicking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cNO2QQu23E

I think it must be the starter solenoid being bad. Does it sound like that?

Thanks!

Florian

[Florian]

Everything else electrical seems to work, lights, horn, gauges. My voltmeter on the dash read 12 volts. After some tries it got lower like 10 to 11 volts but it's changing.

[Florian]

Ah I forgot to mention that it was colder outside today than the days before. Ca. 52 F today and 65 the days before.

[Thunderfoot]

With the mini starter the solenoid is just acting as a relay for the solenoid On the starter itself... and it is activating the starter ok (from the fender solenoid) I seen a spark on that first hit in the video from the battery connection, be sure the cable is making good connection on the battery post, but from your other description and from what I seen in the Vid, I would try turning over the motor by hand to see if you can. If you can't pull the plugs and see what it up.

[Florian]

Good eye! I didn't recognize the spark until you now! Thanks!

I will try turning the engine over by hand and recheck all the wires for good ground tomorrow.

[Florian]

Okay, the engine turns over by hand

Next I found the engine ground strap on the firewall being loose and fixed that. Didn't change anything to the clicking though.

Checked the battery posts, cleaned them and reinstalled them using dielectric grease. Also no change in the clicking.

I will go and buy me a new multimeter now since mine is broken.

[Florian]

Ok, measured a few things with the new multimeter and found out that my battery is bad. When trying to start voltage dropped down to 2.3 volts sometimes. So my battery must be bad. Then we took my Dad's car to jump start it. Trying to start it with the other car connected it still sucked the battery down to 6.6 volts and nothing but clicking.

Next we connected the small wire that triggers the solenoid on the starter, directly to the battery - only clicking again.

Last test was directly connecting the starter to the battery with a screwdriver. Large spark and the tip of the screw driver got really messed up, but not a single move of the starter.

So it seems that the starter itself is bad. I will remove it tomorrow and take a look. Will drop Robb, the manufacturer of the starter an e-mail and see what he says about it. I ordered the starter 4 months ago but only got the car driving for some weeks now. Guarantee ended one month ago.

[Thunderfoot]

Yep that does sound like the starter froze up...

[Florian]

Just sent the starter off to Robb.