Every time my cousin tries to start his car there's a tick tick tick sound. Is it the alternator or is it the starter?????

 

RUNNNNNNNNNNNN.........Its a bomb............

 

-if the noise occurs when you turn the ignition switch from the on to the start position, then it could be a defective starter solenoid (if the starter's not spinning the engine)

-if the noise occurs after the engine turns over and before it warms up (esp. if you're getting the Arctic blast much of the nation is, now), then it could be a little extra valve noise because of the cold conditions.

Otherwise, I agree. It's a bomb. Leave that one to a professional.

 

-If its comeing from the wheel area while your turing then its a CV joint gone bad

-Matt

 

Car won't start at all..He just got an automatic starter and it won't start using the starter or using he's keys....Just makes that noise.....

 

Ok, if only clicking at startup, it's a bad starter solenoid. This needs to be replaced.

A new starter motor and solenoid can be purchased together, or just a solenoid can be bought, and the starter motor reconditioned.

See: www.motorvate.ca (click on the link for "Interesting Fixes," then "Starter Noise Fix") Here, you can learn how to recondition the starter motor.

Just to be sure everything else is in working order, clean battery posts and connections, re-secure + & - leads, loosen then tighten electrical leads on the starter motor itself, loosen and tighten all grounds in the engine bay; test the battery.

 

NO NO NO NO...the automatic starter is bad...Nothing to do with the starter on the car at all. If its clicking and not starting with the fob thing, then its not making connection or its defective and needs to be replaced. check it out

-matt

 

Could be the relay for the auto start. OR he could have an factory anti-theft system in teh car that wont let it start. Like GM passlock...the chip in nissans key...etc...

 

you need to read his entire post. It states that his car won't start using the fob or the keys.

As already mentioned, the solenoid needs to be replaced. You can also just replace the entire starter. Shouldn't take you more than 45 minutes to do it yourself. Very easy fix. Post if you need help and I'll answer any questions that I can.

Justin

 

I would recommend that you bench test the starter before buying a replacement, but if I were a betting man, my $ would still on the solenoid as the culprit.

Clicking can be a relay sound, but clicking from a relay is usually a good sign - generally it means the relay is working. Also, a bad auto-starter relay wouldn't explain a non-start condition with the ignition key.

Btw, if this turns out to be a wiring problem resulting from a professional install job (auto-starter), get whomever did the work to fix it.

Good luck!