No
Start and Clicking Sound
The
dreaded no start and accompanying clicking is caused by
an issue with the battery. Generally, the battery is nearly
completely discharged or dead, but on occassion you may
just have a poor connection at the terminals. Take a quick
run through the steps below to get you car running again
and to troubleshoot the problem.
1.
Try again.
Though the battery is nearly "dead" the clicking
indicates that there is still some life left. Give your
auto a few minutes and try the key again. There may be
enough energy to start your car. (Make sure you do not
pump the gas over and over while doing so as you will
likely flood the engine. This will also prohibit the car
from starting.) If the car starts, allow it to run for
at least 20 minutes to provide time for your alternator
to recharge the low battery.
2.
Check under the hood.
If the car doesn't restart after a few tries, take a look
under the hood. Look at the battery while you're under
the hood. and note if the terminals are "cruddy"
or "dirty" (or loose). In this case, you likely
have a bad connection. You can clean the terminals as
necessary (with a wire brush, steel wool, or a special
tool kit made specifically for battery terminals) and
reattach them snugly to the battery.
3.
"Jump It"
(See
our "Jumping Your Car" article to learn the
proper way to boost a battery.)
If you have cleaned the terminals and insured a "good"
connection, the car should start. If it does not, you
will need to boost the battery. (Alternatively, you can
take the battery to a service station or call AAA for
a recharge or jump.)
Alternative
issue with similar sounds:
On occasion, the starter will jam and be mistaken for
a low battery. If you heard a "clicking" followed
by no sound, you may have a jammed starter. If you are
familiar with the starter you can often remedy this situation
by tapping it lightly with a small hammer. After tapping
it a few times try to restart the vehicle.
Question
not answered here?
Check our auto
repair forums and message boards to get a quick answer.
