More clicks than starts

[Sonyman]

At the moment i'm having my tranny rebuilt but what i have done is replaced all cable wiring from the battery to the starter including better ground wires. Cleaned all contacts and/or replaced the ends on the wires. Only thing left is to get another starter. I figure its really not a hard issue to solve since the problem can only be between the battery, wiring to and from the starter and the starter itself.

[DOHCtorMR]

Thanks for this thread. I'm having the same problem. The only difference is that mine has yet to start. It just clicks until I let up. I'll try hitting it and then checking all connections. Thanks to everyone who gave their info/experience.

[sunny_8]

ok so this is where I am at with my POS.

Put on a new solenoid, same issue.
Checked that at the larger terminal on the solenoid I get 12 volts all the time. Checked ok.
On the smaller purple wire terminal I get about 6.5-7.5 when trying to start. this is regardless if the thing starts or not.

Yesterday I had the car where it would click and would not start for about 30 tries, so I took off the cables at the positive battery post, dremel cleaned all the connecters and put them back together. then at the starter took off the larger post cables and the smaller one cleaned with dremel and put them back together.

reconnected the +ve battery cable and car started.

Will try it about 10 times today...if it starts all the time then I might be ok. One thing I am not sure is if the smaller purple wire on the solenoid touches the larger wires at the solenoid would that cause an issue ? I see them very close together and was thinking about some electrical tape in the middle...

Any help appreciated!

thanks,

[sunny_8]

tired starting it 30 times, all good.

[pocket-rocket]

If you're that concerned with it you could buy some snake skin (aka wire loom) and put on it. It would probably work better being out in the elements then electrical tape.

[Sonyman]

Success!...Sucess!...SUCCESS! I found out why i hear clicks when i turn the switch..it was the ignition switch itself. I bought one new about four or five years ago and thought it can't be that...well it was. After i triple checked the starter, replaced the postive cable from the starter, not that it needed it; replaced the park/neutral switch not that it needed that either. I did salvage yard parts for testing not new ones Checked ALL wiring from the ignition to the starter to the positive terminal on the battery. All i did was swopped out another ignition switch and it cranks every single time. Boy i tell ya, these 3.4DOHC will give you a headache but the payoff is sweeter than (you fill in the blank) Anyway remember this, never overlook the obvious. It just might surprise you. And follow my patented thought for solving automotive problems... "Either repair it or replace it." It's guaranteed to work. Thanks 60Degree!

[sunny_8]

SonyMan....can you please tell me the part number and location of the ignition switch...I think I am at the same point as you.....

thanks
Sunny

[sunny_8]

The click I hear does seem loud and seems to be coming from the front of the engine by the starter. I thought it was the fly wheel moving out....

[pocket-rocket]

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Ignition-Starter-Switch-ACDelco_18050540-P_410_R|GRPSESWAMS_465371454___

$75.99 for an AC Delco brand one. If I remember right, its about half way down on the top of the steering column.

[Sonyman]

Yeah man its like the ignition switch; mine has the light dimmer attached to it. You have to lower the steering column, unscrew some screws and lift off the switch off the column then use a 8mm to unscrew the large wire harness just to the right of the column. Undo the top and bottom mini harnesses from the main harness and put them in the same spots with the new one and the rest is the reverse. It turns over every time now. I tell you these DOHCs make you wanna cuss at'em like a human...I have!

[sunny_8]

Whats the floor console ? Some switches come with a floor console. I need the carpet thing that goes up under the bottom, and clips to under the dash..if thats what it is....


You guys know ?

Thanks,

[Sonyman]

i think you're talking about the long black cable that attaches on the side of the ignition switch on the steering column. If that's what you're referring to, it prevents you from shifting out of park if the key is not in the switch and in another position other than park. it needs to be taken off and hang aside while you swop ignition switches. it's attached only by two tiny phillip sized screws.

[no_doz]

put up the hood & have someone watch the underhood area while you start it-if it starts fine shut it off, pull out the key for a sec to be sure, then try again-repeat this until you find the problem or atleast where the clicking is coming from. if its coming from your solenoid then itsounds like your solonoid -MAY- be bad or its just not getting a steady stream of juice. if its clicking at the baterry/terminals/cables directly hooked to the battery, then you have some sort of a loose or semi loose connection in that area & the clicking is like a short pulse of the sound of an arc welder because basically thats whats happening in between 2 parts of the circuit somewhere (if its not the noid).

[no_doz]

ugh, i didnt realize this thread was over a year old-facepalm like a mofo!

[sunny_8]

yeah the problem is back..so I figured I would keep it with the old post.

Should this not be logic ? Changed the starter and the issue is still there, so it should not be the starter ? I am going to change out the ign switch to see..its only $80 vs taking it to the stealership where they will say the starter is bad...