starter is clicking (can't start the car, but can bump start)

[nautica_t]

car is an 89 coupe with a DE swap.

as the title states, the starter tries to turn over at first but very sluggish as if its really weak with no power and right after it starts to just click and nothing happens. so i figure i jump start the car, it still clicks. bought a used starter since i thought it might be the starter, same thing happens, and than i benched test both starters and they worked.

so now i called up somebody and check for some fuses, and i checked the starter signal fuse, looks good. power in the car is good i suppose, so i should probably try to get the battery tested too if anything in the morning, but i'm not sure if that could be the problem as if i jump start it, i should have efficient power i assume.

so i'm not sure at this point what is causing this clicking that is preventing the vehicle to turn over.

any help would be appriciated. also i looked for an interlock relay that is suppose to be near the fender and battery and there is nothing there. no relay's of any sort.

btw its a 89 coupe with a DE swap.

[LayNLow240]

go to autozone and have them test your battery. if you have drained it enough then a jump WONT help but a full charge would put it back to new unless it has been drained several times.

[nautica_t]

so even a jump start can't rectify that problem regardless if its a drained battery or not?i thought if it was totally drained that booster cables are enough to get it started, but in that case i will definitely try that as well.

[LayNLow240]

if the battery is super low then no, a jump wont work. ive experienced this like 4 times, 3 of which were on my moms car when she left the damn radio on for ever. either have your battery tested or borrow a known good battery.

[Robi1]

Hi, battery is first to check, any auto sparky can test for battery condition, usually for a minimal charge. you said when you had starter off it turned over? second thing to check are your connetions are clean HT at both battery end and where it goes on to starter, fine grit sandpaper usually does the trick also LT wire check the wire terminal itself is clean. some solvent degreaser and blotting paper. also check the conections are tight. dont forget to clean all faces where the starter goes into th bellhousing as it's the main earth to the starter, then check all the HT earthing connections from battery to chassis to motor clean with sandpaper and check for tightness. A very cheap tool I have is a humble anologue twelve volt gauge. run a voltmeter across the battery terminals with motor running if you get 13v or more then alternater is good. If sparky says battery checks fine and problem persists then starter needs new brushes and cleanup, usually alternators wear brushes first, I've only done about 350 alternators compared to 60 starters, another thing to check is the ignition relay usually somewhere on the side of the engine bay or in the fuse compartment. Most starters require 10.5v or more to crank clicking's a sign of weak battery 99% of the time.

[rikerd]

Turn your headlights on; have them shining on something you can see, or have someone watch them from in front of the car. If the headlights go off when you try to start the car you most likely have a cable issue. Clean the battery terminals and the connectors at the battery end first and if the lights still go out when you hit the starter, clean the other ends of the cables.

Good Luck.

[srpowered240sx]

clean terminal posts, clean starter connections, charge battery. one or all will fix the problem.