Electrical Problem: Fuse box is clicking, no ignition.?

Question

My '98 Caravan wont start and the under the dash fuse box clicks loudly when I turn the key or open the door. Someone yesterday told me that it is the starter relay switch inside the engine compartment's starter/fuse center box, so I bought a new one but now see that there are 10 relay switches!

Answer 1

Sounds as though you have a dead short.
The clicking you hear is a circuit breaker.

It seems odd that you'd get the clicking sound when you open the door. The dome light work on a grounding switch mounted on the door jamb.

With everything turned off remove the positive terminal from the battery. There should be no park visible.

If no spark, try it again with the door open. There should a very light spark when you touch the terminal to the battery.

Repeat the process, this time with the key on & door closed. Again there should a light spark when you touch the terminal to the battery.

If there is an arcing spark, then remove the wires at the starter solenoid & repeat the process at the starter motor.

Good Luck


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Answer 2

Usually when you hear this sound it is a dead battery. If the car has the original battery then I would test it or simply replace it. The starter is clicking because there isn't enough power from the battery to spin the gear to start the engine.

Answer 3

from what you have suggested i do no longer understand the reason yet i will in all possibility help because of the fact i dont understand in case you knew yet maximum fuses that should do with aspects below the hood have the fuses below the hood additionally and the aspects that are interior the passenger compartment have the fuse field interior the passenger compartment. so in case you assert the click stopped once you lifted the fuse field conceal verify the electrical powered aspects below the hood....i understand which would be alot yet that's what i understand