Posted in IOM but no response yet, need to get this resolved. Since friday 96q occasionally won't start. When i turn the key just get a clicking sound but if repeated the car starts after a few tries. Thought it was battery so i changed battery ,cleaned terminals, and checked connection at starter. I don't want to believe its my starter again since it was changed a little over a year ago. How do i troubleshoot to determine if it could be something else like the starter relay or ignition switch?
Thanks in advance.
Starting issues/ Need help
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silkysmoothyjud
- Posts: 410
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:08 pm
- Car: 1994 Q45
Re: Starting issues/ Need help (maxwell867)
The clicking does lead toward your battery terminals (or battery charge)....Make sure the battery terminals nice and tight or the q wont start. Have you changed your fuel filter lately. How many miles are on your q? Has your fuel pump been making noise (audible hum)? If so, your fuel pump control unit might be frying.....
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TXCumtrensh
- Posts: 191
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:21 pm
- Car: None
Re: Starting issues/ Need help (silkysmoothyjud)
Dont forget about the ground, If the ground from the engine to the frame is loose, or heavily corroded (or any ground for that matter) it can cause this.
i would also check the Starters + connection, If you have a Digital multi meter, place the + lead on the starters + connection from the battery, and then put the - lead on the case of the starter (ground - ) have a friend/family memeber crank the engine, or try to, and see what the voltage is. If i recall correctly, it shouldnt drop below 10.5v (someone chime in to verify)
then i would go through, and check resisitance between the engine ground, and the ground terminal on the battery, it should be relativly low, on some meters it will read "OFL", otherwise it will read extremly low Ω.
i would also check the Starters + connection, If you have a Digital multi meter, place the + lead on the starters + connection from the battery, and then put the - lead on the case of the starter (ground - ) have a friend/family memeber crank the engine, or try to, and see what the voltage is. If i recall correctly, it shouldnt drop below 10.5v (someone chime in to verify)
then i would go through, and check resisitance between the engine ground, and the ground terminal on the battery, it should be relativly low, on some meters it will read "OFL", otherwise it will read extremly low Ω.
My bets on the starter solenoid. If you can get to it, give it a good wack with a hammer when it's not starting and it should fire right up. Unfortunately you will probably have to get the whole starter/solenoid together as they aren't sold separately that I am aware of.
I've seen these symptoms a hundred times on cars. Could be cables but it sounds like you've checked those already. Also, if it were the cables you would usually see other things in the car acting up like the lights, interior lights, dash lights, etc as they'd all be loosing power.
What kind of starter did you get when you replaced it last? OEM, aftermarket, or remanufactured? Not uncommon for a starter to give out after a short time, more uncommon if it was an OEM model but certainly not if it was aftermarket or a reman.
I've seen these symptoms a hundred times on cars. Could be cables but it sounds like you've checked those already. Also, if it were the cables you would usually see other things in the car acting up like the lights, interior lights, dash lights, etc as they'd all be loosing power.
What kind of starter did you get when you replaced it last? OEM, aftermarket, or remanufactured? Not uncommon for a starter to give out after a short time, more uncommon if it was an OEM model but certainly not if it was aftermarket or a reman.