Funky Ignition Problems

[Anonymous]

I experienced this yesterday, has anyone ever seen this before:

Turn the ignition key and you hear it click, but the engine doesnt turn over. So you think the battery is dead and you jump the battery and drive the car for half an hour to "recharge the battery" but when you finish you turn the car off, then immediately try to restart it and the car just does the turn and click thing.

This used to never happen before and it has gradually gotten more often and now it's doing it every time I try to start the car. I know there's juice in there because the lights under the dash are bright and the stereo turns on. Is this a problem with the C4 not being in just the exact perfect spot in Park for it to start, because it does the same thing in neutral too. Is it a bad solenoid?

One thing that is odd - if I jump over the solenoid with 2 screwdrivers and rotate the engine a bit and then get in and turn the key it has always fired right up

My friend had this kind of thing happen with his C4 and he figured out that all he had to do to fix it was move the shifter around in Park until it made contact with whatever it was supposed to to complete the circuit. I can move mine around all I want and it wont start up.

Hopefully somebody out there knows what I'm talking about.
Thanks a bunch,
Spence

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you need to replace the starter solenoid. That happened to me in a parking lot once. Luckily it was near an auto parts store. Bought a new one for less than $10 and replaced it and its been starting up just fine since.

 

[JoeTrojan]

even before the wise suggestion of the new solenoid...make sure the starter cable is nice and tight on both ends. that thing loose makes a helluva problem, intermittently.

 

[Anonymous]

Also take time to check the battery. It may be very capable of lighting up some lights and the radio but not capapble of providing the amps needed to turn the starter...

my 2 cents worth anyways...good luck

r/
Steve-O

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys I'll try tightening the connections and then see if I should try a new solenoid, I think the battery should be good, but I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Anonymous]

batteries go more often than you think...free checking at most auto part stores

 

[Anonymous]

The only other posibility is the ground strap. It's a long shot, but if all else fails...

 

[ski4evr]

I had a 65 coupe that would do the same thing. Click, click, click... or just one click and nothing else. Talked to many people. Some people just walked up and offered advice while I was scratching my head looking under the hood. Over time I replaced the starter, solenoid, + cable, - cable, battery, alternator... But the problem would never go away. One time, I replaced the solenoid because it was "definitely a solenoid problem." The car still just went "click." I put the old solenoid back (thinking I could return the new one) and vrooom. It started! From that point on, whenever the problem happened again, I began the ritual: disconnect everthing (one at a time), clean it with the brush thinging for the battery terminals (battery terminal brush that had a twist out section with a pointy brush) and put it back together. Worked every time. Cost - $0. I noticed that my battery terminals would get gunked up if I did nothing to them over time. I always removed and cleaned them and sprayed a little can of purple stuff (some battery corrosion inhibiter stuff in a little spray can) to keep them clean.

My 5 cents

ski

 

[ski4evr]

By the way... That is how I got into working on cars. I was always tinkering with the ole Mustang that dad handed over to me (o.k. I took it over cause I was the only one to keep it running for any length of time). Somethng would break and I'd fix it. People would ask, "What did you do to fix it?" My reply, "I don't know. I took it apart. I looked at the pieces. I put it back together the same way it came apart (which was sometimes quite challenging, as we all know - these things don't like to go back together the same way we coaxed them into coming apart). And it work?"

...and they all lived happily ever after.

(I justed had to add the last part as I sit here sipping my Sam Adams Octoberfest )

ski

 

[pookster]

A little while ago I had a similar problem. I tried to start it and I got that clicking. After trying to jump it, charge the battery and other things it still wouldn't start. Then I rolled it down a hill and popped the clutch, and she started right up. Then I turned it off and tried turning it on, and it worked fine. Next day the same thing happened (with the clicking). Turned out that I was really low on water in the battery.
So be sure to check that while you are at it.
Mike