1997 Mazda 626, clicks when trying to turn over?

Question

I have a 97 Mazda 626, and when you try to start the car, all it does is click. i've cleaned the battery cables and poles. What the problem with it?

Answer 1

Before you get too deep in parts, what is the battery voltage?
If your battery is weak, the starter will try to engage, but take all the power from the battery; now there isn't the power to keep the starter engaged, so the solenoid releases, then the power left in the battery is higher, so it engages the solenoid, which reduces the available power from the battery, so the solenoid releases, and the battery power comes back up again, and there is now enough to engage the solenoid .........
All this action many times sounds like clicking or a sort of hammering.
If the battery voltage is not at least 12.5 volts, it isn't fully charged.
12.6 v = Full Charge
12.3 v = Half charge
12.0 v = eighth charge
11.89 v = Dead.

Start with these basics. If the battery is charged, and doesn't drop below about 10.5 v while cranking, then unless you have a very bad connection somewhere, you probably need a starter.

Good Luck

Answer 2

If the battery is good, as in running the headlights and heater blower motor on high, and your battery connections are clean and tight, then the clicking sounds like you solenoid contacts are bad.

When you turn the key, the solenoid shoots forward and large contacts connect the battery to the starter motor. The contacts get burned from arcing and can't pass the current needed by the starter.

Most cars today have starters with internal solenoids. Follow the large red cable from the battery. It will either go to the starter or a large relay with two large terminals on it. The other large wire would go to the starter

A starter repair shop can easily replace the contacts for far less than a new starter.

Answer 3

if you have tried jumping it and it doesnt jump off this almost rules out the battery.... so the next thing is the soliend on the starter which if you go that far on this year model it would be best and prob not awhole lot more to replace the starter. you can take the battery or starter to any advance oreillys or autozone and they can check either.. start with trying to jump it off if you havent.. 9 times out of 10 batteries get dead cells and it can happen with no warning at all so start with it and then next is starter..

Answer 4

the solenoid switch may be out on it,,it mounts on the starter,,you might try tapping it lightly with a hard object to see if it will start then,,if not it may actually be a low battery,,or a really bad connection somewhere,,i own a repair shop,,and it sounds like a solenoid switch,,good luck with it,,i hope this help,s

Answer 5

Solenoid problems or flat battery

Answer 6

Starter trouble. the click is the solenoid but power is not getting from the solenoid to the starter or the starter itself is bad.

Answer 7

Dead battery.