Sound of a dead starter? (Updated: it was the battery)

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
08/31/2020 at 15:30 • Filed to: None

What sound does a dead starter make? Mrs. BaconSandwich when to drive our 2008 Sienna somewhere, and it won’t start. Makes a rapid clicking noise. Other things in the car have power. Tried boosting it, but that didn’t help - makes the same rapid clicking noise.

EDIT: Sounds identical to this:

I’m guessing the battery might be dead. Supposedly the neighbor told my wife that our lights were on - one of the kids had somehow turned on the hazard lights for who knows how long.

EDIT 2: Wife brought over the in-laws car and was able to jump start it with no issue. I’m guessing my car’s terminals were too dirty/corroded.

EDIT 3: I’m thinking of picking up one of those jump starter battery pack things. Anyone have any strong recommendations?

DISCUSSION (22)

Boxer_4 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 15:34

Still might be the battery. The starter is may be too much of a load for the battery to handle if the battery isn’t in a good state of health.

Cash Rewards > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 15:35

If its the starter, try hitting it with a hammer. If its on a dead spot, it might jostle it to a good spot. I’ve been told this by a pro, but haven’t had to. My truck will do this, and the solution is to go battery to battery for the jump, rather than having the second negative connected to the frame. Use at your own risk.

PowderHound > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 15:37

The Drive posted this today.

https://www.thedrive.com/maintenance-repair/35841/what-does-a-bad-starter-sound-like

hillrat > Cash Rewards
08/31/2020 at 15:42

Came here for this, left satisfied.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Boxer_4
08/31/2020 at 15:43

This, 100%. Try jumping it, then test battery and charging system.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Cash Rewards
08/31/2020 at 15:48

Updated the original post. Tried hitting it with an old broom handle - didn’t seem to help. Also gave me a good sliver.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Boxer_4
08/31/2020 at 15:49

I’m guessing this now as well.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
08/31/2020 at 15:49

Tried jump starting it, but same result. Updated my original post with a video that sounds about the same.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > PowderHound
08/31/2020 at 15:50

I’m going to try replacing the battery first, and see if that makes any difference.

onlytwowheels > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 15:51

Big hammer, not broom handle.

Kinja'd!!!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > onlytwowheels
08/31/2020 at 15:52

Will try that next. Have to finish working the afternoon, then I’ll take another look at it.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 15:55

Hmmm. If not low voltage the bendex might be failing to properly extend. Idk, shitty. Maybe give the starter a whack while someone turns the key.

HammerheadFistpunch > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 15:55

Bad battery. A bad starter sounds different. A bad battery may even prevent a jump start. you could try and remove the battery and CAREFULLY hook the jumper cables directly to the terminals, then you will know.

Boxer_4 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 16:14

That sounds like a dead battery. Glad you were able to confirm it. The voltage can seem fine if it takes a charge, but the moment you put a high amperage load on it the voltage drops and it can’t deliver. The starter is typically the highest amperage load in a vehicle.

How old is the battery? The older a battery is, the less tolerant they are of large discharges. They also tend to get less tolerant the more times they are heavily discharged. Might be worth getting it load tested - most part stores should do that free of charge.

Mercedes Streeter > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 16:14

Here’s my personal flowchart when this happens. Sometimes I’ll move steps around if I have a suspicion of why the car won’t start:

1. Try to jump the battery. Since I’m usually dealing with VWs or smarts, a jump can start the car.

If the car starts, the battery either needs charging or it’s toast. And if the battery is randomly dead for no apparent reason , that sounds like parasitic drain or a dying alternator.
If the car doesn’t start,

2. Hit or s hort the starter solenoid (if possible).

If the car starts, the starter solenoid is dead/dying .
If the car doesn’t start:

3. Hammer the starter.

If the car starts, the starter is dying.
If the car doesn’t start:

4. Check to see if any of the accessories attached to the serpentine belt haven’t seized.

In case of my 2012 smart, the alternator seized, which made it seem like the starter was dead or the battery was dead.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Boxer_4
08/31/2020 at 16:16

Not sure how old the battery is. It was in the van when we bought it ~2 years ago, so it could be about time to replace it. I’m thinking the same for my car - it’s probably been ~5 years.

Boxer_4 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 16:24

There should be a date code on the battery - it might be viewable, or it might be under the holding bracket like I often find.

Depending on your climate, 5 years is about right. Some people push it and have them last longer, but I tend to not give batteries the benefit of the doubt - my opinion, anyway.

Just Jeepin' > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 16:25

The new, smaller lithium ion jump starter battery packs are brilliant. Never leave home without one.

I don’t even remember off-hand what brand mine is, but here are a couple of useful references:

https://www.batteryfocus.com/best-lithium-ion-jump-starter/

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-portable-jump-starter/

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Boxer_4
08/31/2020 at 16:45

There’s no visible label on the battery at all - like nothing on the top or the front.

Mrs. BaconSandwich is out picking another one up.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Just Jeepin'
08/31/2020 at 16:46

Mrs. BaconSandwich was in Costco and called me. She’s picking up a new battery and spotted a lithium ion jump starter for $50. Going to see if it’s going to be decent (and if not, Costco’s return policy is really good).

Just Jeepin' > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 16:47

Excellent. I’ve rescued a few people, and myself, with mine.

HammerheadFistpunch > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/31/2020 at 17:34

I have no recommendations for jump start packs, they ALL seem like utter crap to me. I would like to find a decent one that

a. charges at a high rate, preferable with USB

b. Doesn’t require a jump start dongle

c. isn’t the same recycled chinesium in a different package.