No start, tracing electrical connections, single tick noise

[Charlie]

Well, last night went to start the car, and all that happened when I turned the key was a "tick"

Checked battery, checked battery connections. After wiggling some wires, I was able to get it started. Now today, it won't start again. Still, just a single "tick" noise when turning key. This isn't the noise when the battery has low power, that is multiple ticking noises, all this is is a single tick.

I've been trying to follow all of the wires coming from the battery, I'm thinking it might be a loose connection somewhere in the line, but no idea where. Any ideas on where to check/how to get to them?

I've been looking around, but keep loosing the wires, and cannot find many when looking underneath. However, on the starter I can only find one wire. Is that just grounded on the engine?

This is on the 2000 4.0 SOHC

Thanks for any help-

 

[Charlie]

Update: When trying to turn over the engine, when the "tick" noise is made, there is a blue flash visible on the driver's side in the engine bay, pretty far down. I cannot see where it is coming from though, because for it to be dark enough to see the flash, you cannot see what is making it.

All major electrical connections I have been able to find I have removed, cleaned, with no luck.

I also have been able to get the vehicle to start, by wiggling on the power wires, and once it's running, it runs fine. However, this is not a permanent fix (it starts once or twice, then goes back to not starting), and I believe it is a loose wire. I would much rather be able to find it myself than to have to take it to the dealership and pay them to hunt it down..

 

[jlsparky7]

Well its just a matter of finding the short. I would look towards the ECU and starter. Clean the starter cables.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the connection on the starter.

 

[Charlie]

How many connections are there on the starter? I can only see one, so if there are two, it must be on the top side somehow that I cannot see it. I have pulled the one wire off the starter that I can see, cleaned it, and put it back on, with no luck.

As for finding the short, I have tried to follow the wires the best I can, but with no luck.

Any other spots on where to check? Is there another wire on the starter that I cannot see for some reason?

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180725

 

[Charlie]

Thanks for that link, I'll have to search through that, and hopefully I can find my answer!

 

[lifeguard379]

could it be just a bad starter?

 

[Charlie]

I don't believe so, because when I wiggle all of the wires around and it goes, it starts perfect, just like it should.

Plus, the engine only has 40k miles on it, so that's another reason I think it is wiring somewhere vs component failure.

 

[lifeguard379]

what about the starter solenoid in top of the starter?

i was thinking starter because my brother in law had almost the same problem. even took it out and had it tested and it passed, but it would still not like to start until we put a new one in.

 

[Charlie]

Alright, well, thanks everybody for your help. Problem is solved (I hope) and it seems to be working fine now.

The issue, was a loose lead on the solenoid that is connected to the starter. I had simply not found this before, which was the issue. Actually, to see the bolt holding on the wire to tighten it down, I had to look through a hole in the frame.:

Thanks for your help, I wouldn't have been able to track it down without it!

 

[Charlie]

what about the starter solenoid in top of the starter?

i was thinking starter because my brother in law had almost the same problem. even took it out and had it tested and it passed, but it would still not like to start until we put a new one in.

You posted while I was typing-this was where a loose wire was, but with the front diffy in the way along with other things, I just could not see it. I'm thinking since the bolt was in fact loose, (moveable by hand) the solenoid is good.


Once again, problem is solved for now, thanks for the help!

 

[lifeguard379]

aw man i had it to lol

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update! It sounded like it was a loose connection on the starter.

 

[jlsparky7]

Awesome, glad the problem was found. Free fixes are the best ones

 

[JustAGurl]

Charlie pretty much just described my problem. I haven't been able to figure out why it will start at time, first time it did it I kinda banged on the battery cables, then it started a few more time then did not start after coming out of the store. Got it towed home, pulled the starter and had it tested, they said it was good. Put it back in, it started. Took it to parts store for testing, they said my battery was bad, prolly was, put new battery in it started. Then it wouldn't. Put new solenoid in, started once, now won't start. Replaced the switch on the clutch peddle, still won't start. I guess I must be facing a either a wiring problem or a starter that is actually bad. Can anyone shed some light? I started this because I've done a lot of simple repairs and can't really afford a mechanic. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels here. Is there any more info you need from me? This is a 5spd manual tranny and a 4 cylinder.

 

[Naasau]

I know this may sound stupid, but I had a similar issue a few years back and it turned out that the vapors from the battery acid had eaten away both battery cables inside their rubber shrouds, but left the outside looking totally fine. I only found it because I accidentally pulled the wire apart while moving it out of the way to look to see if I had a ground connection issue on the block.

About a year later I ended up having charging issues and weird gremlin-like issues with my electrical issues, turned out to be corrosion on my alternator connections and on some of the body grounds.

I don't know if you've checked all that out already, but it couldn't hurt.

 

[JustAGurl]

I have been reading some other threads on various angles and I'm making a list of things I'm going to try, of course we have had great weather here in Iowa until my lil' Red Ranger decides to go kupoot. I have other transpo but now this has become a challange, and this may sound odd, but I love a challange, just not when it's colder than a well diggers ass. I'm going to jack it up again and get out the test light. A friend suggested it may be a relay, don't know yet, I'm really thinking that starter may be an issue, I may rebuild it, a lot cheaper than replacing it. I'm going to check cables as well.

 

[Naasau]

Awesome, good luck! Remember, if a cable has some corrosion within it, it may check out as having little resistance ohmically, until you try to pump a couple hundred amps through it, then everything dies in a rather dramatic fashion. I would suggest going old tech on the cables and use a razor blade to have a look at the internals, then patch it up with shrink wrap or electrical tape. It may be ghetto, but that way you can be sure.

And I know what you mean about a challenge, I like fixing things myself too, especially when the problem becomes elusive.

 

[sparkypuck]

single tick noise

check starter relay solenoid on inside fender on passenger side.