Clicking noise

Tiny
KAYLEAMAE
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 KIA SOUL
  • 1.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 84,000 MILES
When trying to start my car, I hear a single click but it won't turn over. I replaced the battery and evap valve (the check engine light was on for the evap and went off a week later). The car will start sometimes but not always. It will start when being jumped from another car. I do not know what the issue could be. The interior lights are not dimming or anything. Once started, it runs like normal.
Thursday, January 2nd, 2020 AT 1:40 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
94 TRANSAM
  • MECHANIC
  • 680 POSTS
This is not uncommon. When you start a car it draws about 200 amps which requires a good connection all the way around. Once running about 10 to 30 amps. Which does not require the same connection quality.

I would look at your + and - battery cables.
Test them from battery terminal to cable end. It sounds like one or both cables have a bad connection to the battery. When you jump it you put the jumper cables over the battery cables which bypasses the bad connection.

Here is a guide to help test it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Let us know what you find out.

Rich
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Thursday, January 2nd, 2020 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
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Well, I tested the battery terminals. They both test at 12.37 or a little higher. We tried to jump start again to take to autozone to have them check my starter and the car would not jump. We took the starter off and had it tested, it isn't defective in any way. I'm at a loss of what the issue would be
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 3:11 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
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I am sorry I was a bit vague. You need to ohms test the cables at all 4 ends.

Positive and negative from the terminal to 1 inch down the cable and the same at the other ends.
Also ohms test from the battery terminal with all cables attached to the motor, frame and body at any location you like.
All of these tests should read 0.00 ohms. Any reading higher than 0 is a bad connection and needs to be fixed or replaced.

Voltage testing this will not tell you anything because there is no load on the circuit to see a drop.

Rich
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 8:35 PM
Tiny
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I forgot to post an update but, after trying literally everything I could think of I broke down and had it towed to a mechanic. Turns out, two of my fuel injectors were bad, the starter was indeed bad, and part of my fuel system had to be replaced. I appreciate all the help and advice I was given! It was definitely something that I could not have fixed this time around.
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Thursday, February 20th, 2020 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
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Okay, great. Thanks for coming in. Stop by anytime.

Rich
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Thursday, February 20th, 2020 AT 5:17 PM

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