No start...but battery not dead

[BEARDSLEY]

'99 Explorer Sport 58,000mi
Two weeks ago I couldn't start up, the battery wasn't dead because the lights, radio, etc came on. There was just a ticking noise, really loud and quick...not sure if it was the alternator or starter or what. After a day of sitting, turning the ignition there was no immediate start just a chug, chug...I'd give it a minute and and then it would start up, didn't hear the ticking noise anymore. I was driving it for about 2 weeks, everything fine and just the other day I couldn't get anything, not even the chug, chug like it was even trying to turn over. Only the loud ticking noise from under the hood and now thats all it does. The radio flickers when I turn on the headlights, but the battery seems to have life. Not sure if its something I can fix myself, any advice would help thanks.

 

[Brian_B]

What condition are the battery cables in? Thats the usual cuplrit. Then probably the solenoid.

 

[Robb]

Since you are showing various "low battery" symptoms, I have to ask, are you still running the original, six year old battery?

If it is original, I would start with a new one before diving too deep into this.

 

[dogfriend]

Could be the starter relay. When my Ranger starter relay failed, it made a very rapid clicking sound as the contacts were trying to close but couldn't. Since the contacts don't close, you won't get any current to the starter in this condition.

You can test by jumpering the contacts on the relay or the safer way would be to disconnect the cables, place an ohmmeter across the contacts and apply 12V to the control terminal (the small wire). You should get low resistance when 12V is applied.

 

[Lloyd10977]

Check to see if you have a failing cell in your battery. A 12v battery with a cell that is dying would have power enough to operate lights, radio et., but not enough for the high amp draw of the starter. And the kicker is that until the cell goes completely dead it will still show ALMOST 12v when hooked to a voltmeter. It will NOT, however, test well under any load.

 

[witchdoctor]

You have described exactly the symptoms of my previous two batteries when they needed to be replaced.