Clicking noise, will not start, humming sound from dash

CHRIS SCHULTZ4

MEMBER
1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE
3.8L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
197,000 MILES

It ran fine then I went to start it one morning and it started clicking and whining and the gauges were jumping erratically. After checking normal things the battery, cables, etc. I replaced the starter, but it's still doing the same thing except the whining noise is gone. It's just clicking which I believe is the starter solenoid. I do not know. I need help though. Advice anyone?

Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 3:29 AM

1 Reply

94 TRANSAM

MECHANIC
680 POSTS

Hi,

Yes the clicking is the solenoid. This means there isn't enough power to hold the solenoid closed. Causes are:

Bad or dead battery.
Bad battery cables or cable connections.

Given your gauges are bouncing around it may be a bad ground.

I would suggest ohms checking:
both cables to the battery terminals.
Both cables from the cable end to the cable at all 4 ends.
The positive to the starter terminal.
The negative to the engine block and to the body.

You should have 0.00 ohms at each place, anything higher is a bad connection.

Here is a guide to help you:

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

Let me know what you find.

Rich

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Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 7:47 PM