Clicking Noise And Car Won't Start? Here's Why

Picture the scene. You’ve had a terrible day, and all you want is to get home and relax. Hop in the car and…nothing happens. Except for a weird clicking noise, something you were just not expecting! 

At K & T Ballina Mechanical we know how important your vehicle is to you and we know how important it is that it just works.

In this article, we’ll explain what the clicking noise is, how to do a temporary fix and how to prevent the problem from happening again. 

If you hear rapid clicking, then there’s a strong chance the problem is the battery or the alternator. Your battery may have run out of juice entirely, or the alternator (which charges the battery) may be playing up. 

When the battery doesn’t have enough power, it can’t give the starter the power it needs to function. Instead of starting your car, it just turns on and off at speed, which is what makes the clicking noise. 

If the problem is down to your electrical system, then a jump start may give you enough power to get back on the road temporarily. 

1. Park
   Park the two vehicles close to each other. They mustn’t touch. Make sure both are completely off. 
2. Prepare
   Open the hood and unwind the jump leads from the battery
3. Attach the clamps
   Hook the + clamp to the + terminal of the dead battery and the + clamp to the + terminal of the working battery. Attach the – clamp to the – terminal of the dead battery and the – clamp to an unpainted metal surface of the car with the dead battery.
4. Get started
   Start both cars
5. Remove the cables, following the same order as you did for the attachment
6. Keep things running
   Leave the engine running for a few minutes, or drive for at least 15 minutes.

Once you’re moving again, come and pay us a visit. We’ll look at every aspect of your car electrical system, diagnose the fault and advise on the next steps. It may be a loose connection, or you may need to replace the alternator or the battery itself. 

If you hear a single click, the problem may be a faulty starter or the start relay. If this is the problem, you’ll hear one loud click rather than a series of shorter clicks.

It may be possible to get the starter going with a short sharp tap, but the likelihood is that you’ll need a replacement. 

At K & T Ballina Mechanical we offer a full battery care service.

We’ll test all aspects of your battery and electrics and advise on a sensible maintenance programme to give you extra peace of mind, and reduce the chances of getting caught out by a flat battery. 

Give us call us on (02) 6686 4852.