Astra won't start - Clicking noise

slouise14

Hi,
I have a 56 Astra 1.9. Yesterday, after driving fine in the morning, it just refused to start in the afternoon, instead there is a loud clicking noise when the ignition key is turned and the engine doesn't make any attempt to turn.

Recovery came out and he tried to start with his jump leads, but nothing. Bump started first time and drove over an hour fine with radio and lights on. Switched off and won't re-start again unless bump started...

Think its starter motor but would like some input before buy the parts, and see if anyone else has had this trouble.

Thanks

Either battery or starter. Get battery tested.

ART6

If it won't start with jump leads then it isn't the battery. Almost certainly the starter motor, either seized or the Bendix drive sticking. Also possibly the copper braid that earths the starter motor -- they do corrode away in time leaving no earth circuit so no current through the motor. I would take off the starter and check if it can turn freely (and if not, free it). Ensure that the earth braid is OK and that the cable connection from the battery is not corroded. Check the Bendix drive and free it if necessary (but don't lubricate it!). If all else fails, buy a service exchange starter -- they are readily available.

Being able to bump start it bypasses the starter motor and proves that the battery is OK.

Big Nasty

OP when you turn the key to pos. II to the lights illuminate on your dash? Or are they dull?

sambucus

I'd take the leads off the battery give them a good clean with sandpaper including posts then Vaseline to stop any further corrosion. Jump start then a 15 min drive.
First thing to do before anything else IMO

CiniO

I'd also say most likely it's the starter motor, or it's connection.

PS - 56 astra? Did they really do astras over 50 years ago?

ART6

ART6 wrote: »

If it won't start with jump leads then it isn't the battery. ..................Being able to bump start it bypasses the starter motor and proves that the battery is OK.

Quite often a flat battery won't start with jump leads.
Being able to bump start it does not prove the battery is ok, once there's enough to turn the dash lights on etc a very much discharged battery won't prevent bump starting

CiniO

ART6 wrote: »

Being able to bump start it bypasses the starter motor and proves that the battery is OK.

No it doesn't.
You should be easily able to bump start any car with completely flat battery.

lifer_sean

CiniO wrote: »

I'd also say most likely it's the starter motor, or it's connection.

PS - 56 astra? Did they really do astras over 50 years ago?

On a UK "56" plate maybe ???

CiniO

RoverJames wrote: »

Quite often a flat battery won't start with jump leads.

If the battery was flat, he most likely wouldn't hear a loud clicking noise when trying to start. This proves most likely it's the problem with a starter itself.

CiniO

lifer_sean wrote: »

On a UK "56" plate maybe ???

I know that's why I included this:

But it sounds funny to say he's got 56 Astra on Irish forum, where many people might have no clue what it means.

slouise14

Tested the battery and its reading 12.71 so not that... all the lights come on when I turn the ignition on too and I managed to drive over an hour with full lights on and radio so I know its not the altinator. Away to take the starter out and see whats happens with it... Thanks for all your comments so far...

slouise14

CiniO wrote: »

I know that's why I included this:

But it sounds funny to say he's got 56 Astra on Irish forum, where many people might have no clue what it means.

Sorry but I am Scottish and I never realised it was an Irish forum... for who doesn't know it's a 2006! And its SHE!

kennethsmyth

slouise14 wrote: »

Tested the battery and its reading 12.71 so not that... all the lights come on when I turn the ignition on too and I managed to drive over an hour with full lights on and radio so I know its not the altinator. Away to take the starter out and see whats happens with it... Thanks for all your comments so far...

Hi almost its either the pinion of the starter not firing out to make contact with the flywheel or the starter motor. If the starter motor is accessible (only two bolts) take it off and clean up the plates that the brushes make contact with and wd40 it up. With the wet weather its probably either stuck or gunk on starter motor. Had to do this on my old escort and worked perfectly ever since.:)

coylemj

Has to be the starter. If the battery was flat you wouldn't normally hear clicking, just a dull whirr from the starter as the battery makes a feeble attempt to turn it.

OP, park the car on a level surface, put it in 3rd or 4th gear, let off the handbrake and rock the car backwards and forwards, that will free the bendix and it might then start.

sambucus

Really. that loud clicking problem is so familiar to me 100% of the time it's corroded terminals in my experience. The starter draws way more current than anything else which is why you still have lights etc and charge in your battery.
Not saying it will fix it but its way easier to clean terminals than take out the starter as RJ is right too
JMO

slouise14

Right, have taken starter out (it was turnin free) and connected it straight to battery and it runs fine. Wires going to it seem fine too, no corrosion... So now I really need help

minidazzler

As stated earlier, check all the wiring. Terminals, posts and earth wires/lead and cable leading to starter. Give them a good clean with wire brush or sandpaper and make sure they all make good tight contact.

Bruthal

ART6 wrote: »

Being able to bump start it bypasses the starter motor and proves that the battery is OK.

That wont prove the battery is ok.

The solenoid clicking will indicate that the battery is not totally flat, but a car can push start with a flat battery.

Bruthal

sambucus wrote: »

Really. that loud clicking problem is so familiar to me 100% of the time it's corroded terminals in my experience. The starter draws way more current than anything else which is why you still have lights etc and charge in your battery.
Not saying it will fix it but its way easier to clean terminals than take out the starter as RJ is right too
JMO

That clicking happens every time a car is started, and is the solenoid engaging the starter pinion and closing the electrical contacts that actually energise the starter motor, we just cant hear it clearly as the engine is turning over the instant the solenoid electrical contacts close. The starter not turning can be bad connection of starter earth, or 12v connection to the starter loose, starter motor brushes, starter stuck, or battery discharged below the amount needed to turn the starter.

A typical starter motor in a 1,4l car draws about 80 or 90 odd amps when turning, and considerably more at the instant of starting. A 55 watt headlamp bulb takes about 4.5 amps for comparison.

Bruthal

slouise14 wrote: »

Right, have taken starter out (it was turnin free) and connected it straight to battery and it runs fine. Wires going to it seem fine too, no corrosion... So now I really need help

Well if it was worn brushes for example, it might run with no load on it, but not when in the car trying to turn the engine over.

Try putting it back in, and the act of re connecting the terminations might get it going if the connections were the problem.

And check main battery terminals are tight, although that wouldn`t of prevented jump starting from working, once the jump leads were well connected at both ends.

slouise14

robbie7730 wrote: »

Well if it was worn brushes for example, it might run with no load on it, but not when in the car trying to turn the engine over.

Try putting it back in, and the act of re connecting the terminations might get it going if the connections were the problem.

And check main battery terminals are tight, although that wouldn`t of prevented jump starting from working, once the jump leads were well connected at both ends.

Hiya. Battery terminals are very tight. I've ordered a new starter and getting it tomorrow at a hefty price tag, so will soon find out if its the starter I suppose. The guy from Vauxhall told me the starter motor is not a common fault at all, and that he could safely say he hadn't had any in to sort which has worried me, cuz as I say the the wiring etc and battery seem fine

slouise14

I have been looking around and seen a few people comment on the ignition being buggared.... Stupid question but would the solenoid click if this was the case?

Just asking as my car was in getting the horn fixed last week, and they were in about the stearing colum and just want to rule that out...

Really apprecialte all the comments btw...

slouise14

slouise14 wrote: »

Tested the battery and its reading 12.71 so not that... .........

Car wasn't running though so presumably that 12.71V is from a DVM across the unloaded battery?

You need to loadtest the battery before deciding it's not the issue imo.

Bpmull

We had a mazda that clicked like that it's not the battery just the starter motor. Really old trick sometimes it works. Put the car in second gear and rock it from side to side this often helps the starter motor don't know how and it sound stupid but often temporarily helps the problem. But it is highly likely it is the starter motor.

slouise14

RoverJames wrote: »

Car wasn't running though so presumably that 12.71V is from a DVM across the unloaded battery?

You need to loadtest the battery before deciding it's not the issue imo.

Battery fired up the starter when connected directly via jump leads... Is that not technically a load test?

Bruthal

slouise14 wrote: »

Battery fired up the starter when connected directly via jump leads... Is that not technically a load test?

Not really, as an unloaded starter motor would not take near as much current (except at very instant of connecting, for miliseconds) as one turning or trying to turn an engine.

If the solenoid is clicking, then the ignition key switch is fine, in answer to your previous post.

slouise14

slouise14 wrote: »

............ Is that not technically a load test?

No

Think of the windy up starters from years back, imagine turning one when it's actually not turning the engine.

Bruthal

Bpmull wrote: »

We had a mazda that clicked like that it's not the battery just the starter motor. Really old trick sometimes it works. Put the car in second gear and rock it from side to side this often helps the starter motor don't know how and it sound stupid but often temporarily helps the problem. But it is highly likely it is the starter motor.

Solenoids sometimes click due to low battery. A failed starter motor is just one possibility, but not the only one.

slouise14

Aw I hate this

New starter coming tomorrow so will fit it up and see (pray) it works... but I don't think it will!

Another point, on the casing of the starter there is 2 rubbed bits like something been sitting on and rubbing, could that be shorting the starter in anyways?

Bruthal

slouise14 wrote: »

Aw I hate this

New starter coming tomorrow so will fit it up and see (pray) it works... but I don't think it will!

If it happened to be a bad connection onto the starter motor that was the problem, and im not saying it was, then fitting the new one will fix that problem by virtue of the terminals being re-tightened, and make it look like the old starter motor was faulty.

As roverjames pointed out to do with load testing, someone testing the battery with a digital meter, and then try starting it while still reading the meter, can tell a lot about the battery, and if the starter was putting any load on it.

Why buy a new one? An auto spark could recon your own if it's the issue.

slouise14

Gonna take my battery out my astra and put it in the other halfs tomorrow to see if it is it, cuz surely won't start his too right?

We thought my battery was ok as his reads less than mine when tested straight...

Bpmull

robbie7730 wrote: »

Solenoids sometimes click due to low battery. A failed starter motor is just one possibility, but not the only one.

I know what you mean I assume it's an Astra diesel she has and they are hard on batteries. Specially the newer model it's almost a given that the alternator and battery will need changing fails on them all. I have a 2008 1.3 version and it recently got a new alternator. But the battery was crap in it Would struggle to start engine and sometimes it wouldn't start at all. Never ever clicked however. But I was told by many the 1.3 was just a lazy engine to start. So I went in to motor factors last week got the next size up 70 amp bosch instead of 60 amp. 700 cca and old one had a 370 cold start value. It will not start first touch of the key it's unbelievable difference. Diesel take a lot to start so need a good decent sized battery. Where as you obviously get a way with a lot less on a petrol. Sorry for above post didn't think a dead battery caused a clicking thought that was normally starter motor.

slouise14

RoverJames wrote: »

Why buy a new one? An auto spark could recon your own if it's the issue.

Have been looking for one but we live out in the country, and he's a fair distance away. Partner works on farm so can't get away to even go there and I need my car as not insured on his, so quicker option was get it delivered here... and if it doesn't solve it we will have to bump it and take to garage... which I don't want to do...

Bruthal

Bpmull wrote: »

Sorry for above post didn't think a dead battery caused a clicking thought that was normally starter motor.

The clicking is the solenoid closing its electrical contacts, and engaging the pinion gear. They do this every time you start your car, but is not clearly heard because of the sound of the starter motor turning the engine over at the instant the solenoid clicks.

If for some reason the starter motor wont turn, but the battery has enough charge to close the solenoid, then the clicking solenoid can then be heard.

So the clicking solenoid happens in a properly functioning car, it just cant really be heard when all else is working properly.

With a totally dead battery, nothing will be heard.

slouise14

Update - Battery is fine - Put it in partners Astra an started it fine.......

sambucus

Hard to understand that post
You have the car starting now? with original battery and starter motor?
Or your battery starts your partners Astra, also diesel?

Bruthal

sambucus wrote: »

Hard to understand that post
You have the car starting now? with original battery and starter motor?

No they swapped battery from the problem car, to another car to test battery for starting other car. That shows the battery is ok with the starting load on it.

So it is the starter motor, or was the connections to it that is the likely problem.

slouise14

Update - Car is running! Fitted new starter and still no start....

Turned out to be the fuse!!!

freeweeler

hi im new to this site im having a similar problem with my 1.7 cdti astra 2007 was running fine went out to start it and it just clicks like battery dead also ignition lights flicker on of when key is turnd iv replaced battery and starter for new ones and still no joy it bumpsoff and runs ok but whont jump start iv also replace the earth strap and its still the same its doing my box in now and costing money can anyone help many thanks

ART6

freeweeler wrote: »

hi im new to this site im having a similar problem with my 1.7 cdti astra 2007 was running fine went out to start it and it just clicks like battery dead also ignition lights flicker on of when key is turnd iv replaced battery and starter for new ones and still no joy it bumpsoff and runs ok but whont jump start iv also replace the earth strap and its still the same its doing my box in now and costing money can anyone help many thanks

Sounds like a seized starter motor. Not an unusual fault and usually easy enough to fix.