Car won't start

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-04-2009, 06:31 PM

I am no car guru. I can follow a service manual which I have for my car. However... I need to have an idea what is wrong.

The car started at full charge, electrical was good, and I went down this morning and it made a clicking sound. Electrical systems such as radio obviously was able to have juice.

Just clicks, no attempts for the engine to turn over. 2001 ford focus.

This is with no warning. Does that sound like a starter? I think I can rule out battery. (less than a year old, and the car had juice)

Tim Possible · 09-04-2009, 06:53 PM

You have starter, alternator, solenoid, battery, and all of your wiring in the starting system.

Can you jump it, and get it to start?

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-04-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Leroy

You have starter, alternator, solenoid, battery, and all of your wiring in the starting system.

Can you jump it, and get it to start?

no, the battery was fine and charged, so I think alternator and battery can go off the table... I mean, they are fine, and I think the car still has sufficient voltage to turn over, it just isn't doing anything but making a click when you try to start, and a single click at that.

How would you tell solenoid from starter problems?

Tim Possible · 09-04-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

no, the battery was fine and charged, so I think alternator and battery can go off the table... I mean, they are fine, and I think the car still has sufficient voltage to turn over, it just isn't doing anything but making a click when you try to start, and a single click at that.

How would you tell solenoid from starter problems?

So you are sure the battery is still fully charged? If you have a dead short in your alternator it could drain the battery pretty quickly.

Replace the solenoid? Usually very cheap and easy to do.

Also, check to make sure all your connections to the battery are tight. If you have a bad connection it could be limiting the juice you get.

After all that, pull the starter and take it to Kragen. They can test it...

jthomas1600 · 09-04-2009, 09:13 PM

Did you try tapping the starter with a hammer? Sometimes this will work if the starters going out.

Tim Possible · 09-04-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthomas1600

Did you try tapping the starter with a hammer? Sometimes this will work if the starters going out.

Haha. Been there, good idea. One of my old Mustangs, and my F100 both had those issues before. Although, I used to give them more than just a tap.....

**scared2mosh** · 09-04-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthomas1600

Did you try tapping the starter with a hammer? Sometimes this will work if the starters going out.

That has worked many a time for my family

OiBoyz · 09-04-2009, 10:38 PM

I'm not car guru either, but didja tap the connection at the battery? Sometimes that can get gunked up. Generally when I've had electrical issues, the alternator is the culprit.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-04-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

I'm not car guru either, but didja tap the connection at the battery? Sometimes that can get gunked up. Generally when I've had electrical issues, the alternator is the culprit.

I cleaned mine good. The thing is, the stereo, locks, lights, all act like they are at full power, so it seems that the car has juice, but is not starting... Oh well, I pull a solenoid tomorrow and a starter I guess.

OiBoyz · 09-04-2009, 11:00 PM

IF the electric is ok, then it seems to me you might be looking at the carborator? Like maybe you're not getting a spark? Of course, I could be out to lunch since I know almost nothing about the internal combustion engine.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-04-2009, 11:02 PM

To the car junkies, it makes a tat-a-tat sound like a world war two movie machine gun when you try to crank it.

Tim Possible · 09-04-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

IF the electric is ok, then it seems to me you might be looking at the carborator? Like maybe you're not getting a spark? Of course, I could be out to lunch since I know almost nothing about the internal combustion engine.

No carbs on a Ford Focus....

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

To the car junkies, it makes a tat-a-tat sound like a world war two movie machine gun when you try to crank it.

My first guess would be starter.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-04-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Leroy

My first guess would be starter.

I think I remembered that being the sound it makes...

...curses.

Are starters expensive?

Tim Possible · 09-04-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

I think I remembered that being the sound it makes...

...curses.

Are starters expensive?

Um.....starters I have bought have been for older cars. Around $40 for most of them. But that's for an engine that's been around for 40 years....

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 09-04-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Leroy

Um.....starters I have bought have been for older cars. Around $40 for most of them. But that's for an engine that's been around for 40 years....

well, this one is now 10...