98 TA - Clicking Starter
1). Tried two different new batteries
2). Checked voltage at battery: 12.6V when not engaged, 11.9 when trying to start.
3). Replaced starter with a brand new, not re-man, starter.
4). Tried to start with both accessory belts off of the engine in case one of them froze up.
5). Checked voltage at starter: 12.6 V when not engaged, drops to near zero when ticking.
Anything else that you can think of to try? Why is the service engine light flashing in sequence with the starter trying to engage...is that normal or do you think that it truly is trying to throw a code?
Got a new battery, new alternator, no clicking for me anymore.
For the hell of it I tried running a jumper from the neg battery post to the starter's casing. Ta da...fired right up when we turned the key.
I assumed the neg battery lead was bad. I removed it and installed a new neg battery lead. That didn't help. On a 98 TA the neg batt cable attaches to the frame near the passenger-side engine mount. And the connection was very tight there and corrorsion free.
In the end I used a small section of the old neg battery cable and made a jumper from the frame ground point to the lower starter bolt. No worries, I am good with wires and crimped and soldered a connector so it looks tight and professional. It's firing up perfectly now, very strong.
This must mean that the frame ground point isn't making good contact with the engine block (assumingly through the engine mounts)? It doesn't matter now with the jumper I created the engine is nicely grounded now.
Trending Topics
Last edited by joshp14; Jul 19, 2006 at 07:15 PM.
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time






