The starter relay makes a clicking sound, but the engine does not rotate, which indicates that the starter motor is not receiving enough current from the relay. This may also be a sign of low or exhausted battery power. Only when it transmits enough current to the starter, the relay starts to work.
It might be a battery or alternator problem.
A rapid clicking noise when trying to start your car could mean there's something wrong within the electrical system. Perhaps your battery's dead, or your alternator, which charges the battery, isn't working correctly.
If your starter relay has gone bad, the electrical signal will never make it from the battery to the starter motor. As a result, your engine won't turn over - no matter how many times you turn the key. A faulty relay often produces an audible clicking sound when you turn your car.
Signs of a Bad Starter Solenoid
It usually means there's a faulty connection in the solenoid. Another common symptom is a single clicking noise when you turn the key.
As I have stated several times previously, every mechanical relay has a little electromagnet in it, and when it is energized it pulls the internal switch contacts together. That makes an audible clicking sound. You also can feel the contacts closing if you lay your hands on the relay.
So can a bad starter drain your battery? The short answer is: Yes, it can. It could also drain the battery even faster if you repeatedly try to start your car with a faulty starter. A faulty starter is also one of the leading causes of battery overcharging.
One of the best ways to determine if a car fuse has blown is by using a test light. It should illuminate both ends of the fuse, and, if it doesn't, it needs to be replaced. Sometimes, a blown fuse is caused by a damaged wire, motor, or other part.
You hear a single click
Usually, this points to a faulty relay or solenoid, or a bad or jammed starter motor. Solution: Rock your car back and forth or tap the starter motor with a hammer and try starting the engine again. If this works, you are good to go!
Starter Motor. If the battery appears to be charged (the headlights, stereo and other accessories work) but you only hear one click, then the problem probably lies with the starter motor or the solenoid. The solenoid is the switch that engages the starter motor so it turns the flywheel and starts the engine.
Several things can cause a starter relay to fail, including corroded contacts, a faulty circuit, contacts that weld together, or just a relay that's too old.
Push-starting, also known as bump-starting, is an old-school yet effective way to start a car with a bad starter. However, it only works if you have a manual transmission vehicle.
If the relay clicks it means the contacts are opening and closing. It it doesn't work then either the circuit is not wired like you think or the circuit on the contacts side is wrong. Clicking equals working as far as the relay is concerned.
A normally open relay should read open or OL. Energize the electromagnet coil with a 9-12V battery across the pins. The relay should make an audible "click" as the electromagnet coil energizes and closes the switch.
Why won't my car start but the battery is good? If your car won't start but the battery is good, the most common cause is a faulty starter – though it could also be to do with your fuel. You may have insufficient fuel to get the car going.
Corrosion and residues in the circuit restrict the flow of current. Due to these conditions, the starting relay may be forced to work intermittently. The starter relay is the basic component of the ignition system and has very few moving components, which is why it rarely fails.
Abnormally high or abnormally low ambient temperatures to which a solenoid is exposed for an extended time may cause a solenoid to burn out. High Temperature. Coil insulation may be damaged and one layer of wire may short to the next layer. A heat shield or baffle will give some protection against radiated heat.
A starter malfunction can have different causes: Electrical connections faulty. Solenoid switch (engaging relay) stiff or faulty. Electric motor damaged electrically.
Car not starting: Another symptom of a faulty ignition relay is a no power condition. If the relay fails it will cut off power to fuel pump and ignition system, which will result in a no power, and therefore no start condition.