2000 Buick Regal Clicking starter

Tiny
CARL722
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 BUICK REGAL
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
My Regal has had some coolant problems and I got them all fixed and started the car and let it run for 20 minutes then I put it back on the ramps to put the air dam back on. After shutting it off and putting the air dam back on it wouldn't start. It isn't a dead battery clicking from the starter it is a hammering clicking like the solenoid is throwing the sproket but the starter motor isn't spinning. So I took the starter off and went to a local parts store and had them bench test it and said it was good. So I went for the wiring and replaced the hot and ground wires and put new terminal ends on the cable and puyt the charger on the battery. I tried to start and still the same real loud clicking. I took the starter back off and got a new one. It does the same thing. I went through all of the troubleshooting of the wires chanking voltage and resistance with a digital multi meter and I had 12.3 volts on the battery and the starter and.5 ohms from the positive terminal on the battery to the starter and.6 ohms from the negative terminal to the starter chassis. I pulled the fan belt to turn the crankshaft a little. I turned the ignition and it started up twice. I put the air dam back on and it went back to the clicking. I tried the belt again and checked my wires again to make sure the air dam didn't affect my wires and it is all good. I am ready to give the car a stick of dynamite.
Monday, September 14th, 2009 AT 8:50 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
MATHIASO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,209 POSTS
Hello Carl
Do you have antitheft system on your vehicle? If yes, the problem maybe there, if no, the problem is electrical and I will help you find it.
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
CARL722
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I found the battery had a terminal worn thin and not thick enough to handle a big voltage dump for starting. I replaced the battery and it starts. I replaced the alternator to but it is not charging. I think I just fried the new alternator. I checked the hot wire on the back and it is directly to ground. I removed the wire and checked the voltage from the alternator while not grounded and it is only making 1.6 volts. I am now chasing a grounded hot wire. It all happened after removing the alternator to replace the heater hose elbows on the tensioner pulley. After I find the ground I am going to have to get a new alternator and then I should be good. I have a subscription to Alldatadiy. Com for tech manual. It says the car doesn't have a theft lock on it.
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
MATHIASO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,209 POSTS
Thank you buddy, I'm happy you found the problem.
But if the problem should come again, please don't hesite to contact us, by the way, make sure your battery is fully charged above 12.4 v.

Thank you
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
CARL722
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The wire on the solenoid that comes from the alternator was on the wrong terminal. I wired it the same way as the one I took off but it grounded out the alternator. I have done alot of work and replaced alot of starters and even built vortec engines, but this is the first one that has really got me good in over 20 years.
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 AT 10:18 PM
Tiny
MATHIASO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,209 POSTS
You did a good job, car problems are sometime not what you expect.

Have a good day.
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Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 AT 2:30 AM

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