Starter clicking?

Question

I just got a truck and the guy claims the battery is new. However it sat dead for Im guessing at least two weeks in -0 weather. Is this enough to completely destroy the battery? Its been driven for about an hour and a half when I brought it home so Im pretty sure it got fully charged. I just started the truck and moved it... then an hour later I went to start it again and the starter will turn the engine a little then start clicking fast and stops turning it. The lights seem bright so I figured maybe its the starter. But I ask for your expert opinions. Thanks

I just want to point out the starter IS engaging because it turns the engine very slowly for about a second then just keeps clicking as long as I hold the key.

Answer 1

There are a couple of possibilities. The most obvious, as you point out, is that the battery is on its last legs. You could also check the battery terminals to make sure they're clean. Other, less happy possibilities: there could be a broken tooth on the flywheel, which prevents the starter from engaging. If it's a manual you could try rocking it in 2nd gear to move the flywheel along. The starter solenoid could also be out, which isn't a huge job to fix. Or, finally, there could be a dead spot on the starter armature which prevents it from cranking if it stops on that point.

Answer 2

First off, many selling something will claim it to be "new," so use your own judgment in addition to a battery load test to verify the sellers claim. About the battery sitting dead for two+ weeks in weather below zero: (Source 1: "Cold batteries that are allowed to drop to a half-charged condition in winter operation will generally accept only a couple of amperes at [a normal vehicle charging rate]. This is insufficient to maintain the battery in a ready state of charge. Batteries that are pulled down to a half-charged condition in winter months will never warm up enough to accept a suitable charge. The longer this condition is allowed to exist, the more difficult it is to [properly charge the battery].") About the lights working, but not the starter: it takes much more to operate the starter than the headlights, so this does not necessarily mean the battery is okay. This brings us, again, to the weather condition at the time of starting a battery: (Source 2: "A battery decreases in cranking power as it gets colder. That is, the battery's available energy decreases. While a battery at 80 degrees F (Farenheit) has 100% of its power, the same battery at [freezing point] 32 degrees F has only 83% power available. When the temperature drops to zero, the battery still has 61% of its power, but it decreases to 45% at -20 degrees F, and at -30 degrees F, it has only about 10% of the original power available. Also, as the temperature of the battery and the engine decreases, it becomes more difficult for the starter to crank the system. An engine at -20 degrees F is 3 1/2 times more difficult to crank than an engine at 80 degrees F.") Here's my verdict: It sounds like you have a weak battery (most components of the starting/charging system "die" slowly), though it may not be completely "dead" yet: this would explain the initial working condition of the truck when you drove it home. Then, the battery may just not be accepting a good charge due to cold weather: try removing the battery, warming it to room temperature, then fully charging it at a slow ampere rate - this may correct the low charge problem. If the problem persists, proper load-testing would fully determine the battery's true condition; but, if you don't want to wait, and/or you have plenty of money to throw around, just try putting in a new battery and see if it fixes the problem. However, this does not completely rule out a bad starter or alternator either: as sometimes in the case with charging/starting systems, it could have a compound problem. Anyway, good luck, and hope this helps to get your problem fixed.

Answer 3

Does the clicking sound like a machine gun? If so its the battery. You should get the battery checked out and using a dvom do a voltage drop test. The cold weather you mentioned is not a good environment for batteries. Also preform a parasitic draw test as well just to safe.

Answer 4

-0 weather is really hard on a battery, mine does the same thing but the battery acts fine once it warms up a bit.

You can fork out the money and get a new battery, but what I would do first is hook it up to a 2amp 12v trickle charger at least overnight but maybe for 24 and up to 48 hours and see what happens.

That's what I did, and mine works pretty good now.
Worst case scenario you're no worse off (buying another battery), but it might fix it.
I may have to replace mine next winter, but now I have more time.

Answer 5

cold is hard on a battery, an after 2weeks sitting it could drain the battery, i said jump start it , an check the water in battery

Answer 6

Sounds like a bad battery. Have it load tested.

Answer 7

starter moter on it,s way out
check battery while engine is running with volt metor ....14 volts ok
less battery is knankered

Answer 8

battery no good or starter solenoid has shat itself.