Clicking on starting

[Paul Philpot]

A couple of times when starting I've experienced a clicking noise. I turn the ignition off and she fires up no problem.

Car is K series 1.4 Supersport

Any ideas.

[Jonathan Kay]

This is a notorious and extensively studied problem. The archives are full of reports and solutions.

But it has quite a lot of possible causes. As you're probably about to discover.

Do you have a multimeter and a wiring diagram?

I'd start by:

1. Measuring the battery voltage at rest, minimum during cranking and at 3,000 rpm.
2. Inspecting all of the relevant wires and wiggling, disconnecting, cleaning and reconnecting all of their connections. That's everything on the starter and the battery and all of the thick ones including the earths.

Jonathan

[revilla]

Further to what Jonathan suggests, make sure you disconnected the wires from the battery negative terminal first before touching the wires around the starter and reconnect them last. The main battery positive wiring on the back of the starter is within millimeters of the block which is earthed. If you try putting a spanner on that terminal with the battery connected you *will* end up with fireworks.

[anthonym]

try wiggling all the wires, see if they (or any) feel stiff - and is the problem manifesting when the engine is hot and maybe been running for a while? If so this is the first indication of c.o.d. (click of death).

the most likely suspects are the wires nearest the primaries - assuming the starter is not simply fried internally, but that happens after the (unprotected) wires are cooked.

Definition of "very stiff", my power cable snapped when bent.

Anthony

[Paul Philpot]

Additional ignition relay being fitted at the weekend.