There are many reasons why your car may not start, but what does it mean if clicking noise is involved at the same time? When your car clicks while trying to start, you could be facing a simple problem that has become more complicated.
In this guide, we browse through the reasons that you may hear a clicking sound when turning the key. We also show you some ways to fix the issue and take a few minutes to answer your most frequently asked questions.
Reasons Your Car Clicks When Trying To Start
The primary reason your vehicle clicks trying to start the engine is voltage drop from the battery. Other reasons could be a loose connection or a failed starter. The least likely reason is a locked up engine, which is the worst case.
Below is a more comprehensive list of why your vehicle clicks when trying to start the engine.
#1. Low battery voltage.
In order to start the vehicle engine, your car’s battery must be fully charged. Batteries reach an end-of-their-life state when they stop being able to hold a solid charge. When the charge has been too long away from 100% it will not start the vehicle engine sounding like simply rapid clicking.
If the battery is newer with no reason to be dead, the problem could be bad alternator. The alternator is critical for charging your battery and typically fails around 100,000 miles.
#2. Bad starter.
If the starter or starter relay just failed you will only hear the single click. It will not sound like dead battery.
Starters are made to last up to 200,000 miles but some fail sooner, depending on where you live and what the climate is like.
#3. Loose or corroded battery terminal.
The clicking could sound like a dead battery even if it’s not dead. If so, the issue can be from connecting to terminal which can be a loose connection. It can also be a result of corrosion over time to the terminal that could cause a poor connection.
Connections become loose when the vehicle is driven down the road due to vibration. Getting battery corrosion is the product of electrolytes or vapor coming off of the top of the battery. Both of these situations are very easy to fix and we discuss this in just a minute.
#4. Bad Ground Strap.
The ground strap is the black wire from the negative battery terminal to the chassis of the vehicle. It’s also called ground wire, ground cable or negative battery cable.
This strap is part of the main ground for the electrical system of the car. There is probably another ground strap between the engine and the chassis of the car.
If the ground connection is broken, the car may not start, but you may hear a clicking sound. You may also see the lights flickering and you may start to experience electrical accessory problems.
This can introduce some funky issues with your vehicle therefore you should be aware of everything that is happening.
#5. Broken Power Cables.
Power cables transmits the voltage from the battery to the all of the electronics. If one of the cables gets broken, the cable will not send the correct voltage, and the car will not start.
Cables eventually fail due to use. The use of vibration and weather conditions can also cause excess wear. It’s not something to mess with. You will need to repair or replace it quickly.
#6. Seized Engine (Not Common).
A seized engine does not turn over as a result of severe internal failures. They are sometimes referred to frozen engine or locked up engine. Regardless of what you call it, the engine will not run. This is one of the more costly issues to deal with.
The first sign of a seized engine is that it does not start. The other possibility is that it may turn over slightly, but it will make strange noises. When the starter engages the engine, it may clunk or just click.
How To Fix A Car That Is Making a Clicking Sound When Starting?
Identifying the cause of the clicking noise is the first step to fix the problem. Once you do this, you can research the proper repair procedures in the service manual or you can just follow the instructions below.
#1. Recharge the Car Battery.
If the car battery is dead, then, it will not have the energy to start the engine. A battery can die because the lights were left on, the alternator is not charging the battery, the vehicle was put into storage and forgotten on a maintainer; etc.
There are a number of options available to you.
- Jump start the car: Do this option if you are stranded and needed to get the car moving. Leave the engine running for at least twenty minutes, to charge the battery.
- Use a portable jumper: This is an option if you have killed the battery while you are out. Again, you will need to let the engine run, so the alternator can charge the battery.
- Hook up a battery charger: This option is best if you have time to let the battery charge.
- Hook up a trickle charger: This a great option if your vehicle is in storage or is not used very often.
If you get the battery going again, but it dies, you can skip to step #2.
#2. Replace the Car Battery.
Car batteries may last from three to five years. When a battery no longer holds a charge, it’s time to replace it. Battery testing can be done at a local auto parts store.
Additionally, many of these places will install the battery for free if you purchase it, too. Depending on engine type and size, you may pay anywhere from $75 to $450 for the new battery.
If you replace the battery and the same issue continues, you likely have a bad alternator.
In that case, get it replaced so that your battery will get a proper charge. Hiring a local professional to replace an alternator will set you back anywhere from $200 to $700.
#3. Tap Hammer on the Starter.
The starter is an electric motor with graphite brushes. These brushes wear down and they can break. Moisture can get inside the starter housing and create rust. A gentle hammer tap to the starter housing might release whatever the problem is. However, this is a short-term fix.
It’s also possible there’s permanent magnets instead of electric. If you strike the starter too hard, the magnets can crack.
Ultimately, when the starter starts failing, you want to just replace it. You may pay from $175 to $450 for a starter replacement.
#4. Inspect for Damaged or Corroded Battery Cables or Ground Strap.
Check for corrosion around the battery terminals. If you see white buildup on the terminals, clean it off for a better connection.
Use the baking soda and water formula on that. All you have to do is gently scrub it off using a tooth brush.
Here are a few safety tips to remember:
- Wear gloves. Corrosion can burn your skin.
- Safety glasses are also a good precaution.
- If you do not have a old toothbrush, you can also use a cotton swab. Do not use your fingers or a rag you want to keep.
- If you clean the terminals and still see debris, you might consider spraying them down with compressed air.
- Dispose of all items properly. Battery acid is corrosive and can do a lot of damage.
Lastly, you also want to check for loose connections. If you have any loose connections tighten them to see if the car starts. Also, if any of the cables look worn or damaged, go ahead and change them. It does not take long to change an old cable out for a new one.
#5. Call a Mechanic.
You may have some experience with machinery and think this starts problem will be a simple fix.
You might find though after a few diagnostic attempts and repairs that it is beyond your means. And that is ok! Don’t be hard on yourself for accepting that this situation is above your skill level.
Look for local mechanics with good reviews, and as always, the Federal Trade Commission suggests getting an estimate before approving any work. Lastly, look for a mechanic who offers some kind of warranty.
Some shops offer a warranty on parts only, where some will also add on warranty to labor charge if something goes wrong.
How can you tell if it’s your battery or a starter failure?
When a battery goes dead, you may hear a rapid “click, click, click,” but with a bad starter, you’ll normally only hear one click.
The only way to tell the difference between the two is to diagnose them. Once you’ve diagnosed them, you can address the problem and, hopefully, start the engine.
Does a bad alternator make a clicking noise?
You may hear a clicking noise, but it won’t be because the alternator failed. When the alternator fails, the battery won’t charge anymore. When the battery dies, you will hear a clicking noise when trying to crank the engine.
What are the signs of a failing starter?
When the starter fails, then you will only hear one click. The starter can fail, and it can also make grinding or whirring noises. It can also fail to start the engine.
There can be intermittent issues where the engine starts some of the time, and not others. In rare circumstances, there may even be some smoke coming from the failing starter.
What does it cost to fix a bad starter?
Usually, you can expect to pay anywhere from $175 to around $450 to have a bad starter replaced. This will depend on what type of vehicle you have and where you go to have it replaced. If you do the replacement at home, you will only have to pay the cost of the parts.
What is the average life of a car starter?
Most starters are good for about 80,000 starts before they begin to go bad. In regular driving, this should equate to either 150,000 miles or more. However, if you live in an extreme climate, the starter may not last as long.
Getting the car started is the main goal, especially if you have to be somewhere. Upon the first sign of clicking when attempting to start the car, you should probably address the issue. With some luck, you can likely avert a major starting problem before you find yourself stranded.
In fact, you may only need to address a loose connection or maybe a corroded connection, and that would be the best-case scenario. Even if you ultimately have to repair a battery or alternator, you typically aren’t looking at an outrageous amount of money.
The only way you could get in a rabbit hole situation would be if you had a seized engine; that is highly unlikely. Even as busy mechanics, they don’t see this rare problem that often.