MadMaxxNA

This one is somewhat odd. My folks LS400 required a jump the other day, acted like it was a dead battery (turn --> click). The car jumped and ran fine. After it sat for a while, it again acted like the batt was dead even thought he battery had a new full charge. To me, it felt like a loose starter connection, where the amp pull was too high due to corrosion or conenction.

Now when they turn the key, there is a clicking about 3 times a second. Sounds like a woodpecker under the intake hehe. Usually the starter would only try to engergize once per click, but it's like the power is being cut off and on once every .3 seconds.

I'm thinking starter relay...but preparing myself for the posibility of an intake manifold pull this weekend

Any thoughts?

Tammy

What is the mileage and year of the starter?

A new full charge does not give you a new battery.

.... a recharge on a bad battery will not restore it.

Your description is that of a defective battery.

You may wish to consider load testing and perhaps replacing the battery in question.

4theboys

Just went through the same thing and it ended up being my starter....I am getting my car back today....My issue was it would act up after sitting all night and not do it if the car was hot.......gave it to the mechanic and he was able to get the car to repeat the issue.....could they hide the starter any better......

This is the year of starters for me......I fried my starter in my winter car this year as well 94 accord wagon....it got stuck in the on/open position.....burned up real good not to mention the smoke coming from underneath the hood.....

Best of luck on your car....

alsalih

As Tammy noted, it’s your battery! The fact that it’s even clicking confirms that the relay is working. Check the battery voltage and you’ll find that it’s probably at 10V or less! If your voltage is at 12.5V and it still does that then it would be your starter.

trukn1

Funny, my 92 does the same thing. Battery is only 1 1/2 years old. Had the battery bench tested and was confirmed to be a good battery. Battery was recharged. My car does show the same symptoms as described above though. The clicking sound as described in first post. Could even be a bad contact on the battery, as i have found if I move the cable around a little it starts right up.

theschoens

concur with truckn1. Tried to start my car after brand new alternator install. Click, no lights, no power, nothing. Tried to jump, wouldn't jump. Tried to start again, presto! Started. Took it straight back to shop. Cable coming off battery to starter was not seated correctly. Cleaned and reseated cable, has been working like a champ ever since. Battery tested at 12V and 11V under a load. Tested at 14V with car running, alternator powering. Tightening up the battery cable--free. I can handle that!

JayWls400

It's the starter, Had same issue on my 92, had replaced the Alternator and Battery and it worked for a while and still ended up doing the same thing. After some research I found that after some years the starter begins to require more juice to crank the car and jumping seems to be the only way it will start. It also caused a drain on the battery when trying to start it so you had even less juice after attempting to start several times without a jump. It isn't easy to to figure out because the starter appears to work perfectly and everyone tends to look at the obvious stuff 1st, especially since the starter sits in a awkward location.