Clicking Sound When Trying to Start Car (Reasons + Solutions)

clicking sound when starting car

The frustration can get very real, very quickly when you’re late for work and start your car – only to be greeted by a meager clicking sound! 

If you’ve ever experienced this irritating event – something that only ever happens exactly when you need it least – you may wonder where this errant click is coming from.

This problem could make you extremely worried and think that something is seriously wrong with your car. 

Well, something is probably wrong with your car – but it usually isn't that serious, so don't get all shaken up!\

This article is for you, as we’ll take you through some issues that could be causing the problem and how to solve them or prevent it in the future.

Let’s read on to find out more! 

The Different Types of Clicks 

When your car is clicking instead of starting as you expect, you want to pay attention to the sound you’re hearing. 

Is the sound a series of multiple rapid clicks or is it a single click with nothing else? Before we go on, let's discuss the difference between a single click and rapid clicks.

Rapid Clicking Noise

If you hear rapid clicking, it usually means there's a problem with the electricity. This occurs when the electrical system lacks sufficient power to shut the connections in your starter motor fully. 

Rapid clicking may continue as long as you hold the key in the start position, and you’ll notice that when you let the key go and the electrics disconnect, the clicking will stop. 

Depending on the make and model of your car, the clicking can be more or less rapid or loud. 

This rapid clicking could be caused by various factors, which we'll go over in more detail in the next section. 

Single Clicking Noise

On the other hand, a single click usually indicates a more serious issue. 

This dreaded clicking noise usually indicates that you have a problem with your starting or that your engine is stuck! 

If the engine doesn't start, your starter will normally emit a single loud click as it tries to lock onto the flywheel's teeth and spin it. You won’t find much difference in this click between models because engines all work largely the same. 

Debugging your Car’s Clicking

There are all sorts of reasons reasons you might hear a click when you start your car. 

Whether the problem is electrical or mechanical, you’ll be able to start investigating what might be the specific issue you’re facing once you’ve settled on the type of click you’re hearing. 

To help you figure out which one could be the problem, let’s take a look at a few potential sources below:

Low Battery Voltage

Low Battery Voltage

This is usually the most common problem when you notice that your car produces a clicking noise instead of starting. The issue could be caused by an electrical component in your vehicle taking electricity while it is turned off or if you neglected to turn off the parking lights a few hours ago. 

This problem could also result from a faulty car battery, especially if you reside in a cold location where the battery requires a lot of power to start the engine in the cold.

You can jump-start your car from the battery of another vehicle to quickly resolve this issue. However, this may not solve the problem in the long run.

You can use a car battery tester to diagnose the status of your car battery. For example, you could find that you have a bad battery, which may force you to look for a car battery replacement ASAP.

However, when your vehicle is turned off, it's a good idea to examine for any components that are consuming power. If you lack the necessary equipment or knowledge, you should have a professional car technician perform it.

What to do next

Low battery voltage can be solved in a few different ways. If you have the equipment, you can remove the battery to charge it – though this will be dependent on how old the battery is. 

The battery can also be jump-started by another vehicle. If all else fails, the battery can be replaced. 

Corroded Battery Terminals

Your battery terminals could also be loose or corroded, another common issue. 

Starting a car takes a lot of power from the battery to turn the engine over, and if the contact is faulty, you may hear a clicking sound as the energy attempts to transfer across a damaged or corroded connection.

To check if this is an issue, there’s a simple test you can carry out. 

During the cranking of the case, you will frequently witness sparks surrounding the terminal. After trying to crank the engine for a bit, place your hand gently on the terminal to feel how warm it is. 

If it's hot, there's probably a problem with the connection as all that electricity has to go somewhere and the energy is converted into heat!

What to do next?

If the battery terminals are dirty, they can be cleaned with a baking soda solution and a rag. 

Be sure to wipe the dirt away and not dump the whole solution on top of the battery! 

If the terminals are completely corroded, you will need to replace the battery completely.  

Faulty or Bad Starter Motor

Another problem that could be making your car produce a clicking noise when starting is a faulty starter motor. A solenoid is located inside the starter motor and is pushed out simultaneously as the starter is turned. You may hear a click from your engine without it turning over if the solenoid becomes blocked or fails to function properly.

Also, if the starter motor has some damaged parts on the inside, you may notice a click. Adding external electricity to the starter solenoid and seeing if it reacts is a simple way to check this. For this, you'll need some electric car expertise, and a mobile mechanic may be the best option at that point.

What to do next?

Reach out to TowingLess to have an automotive technician sent to assess the starter motor issues with your car! 

From there, repairs or replacements can be carried out as necessary. 

Ignition Switch Failure

Ignition Switch Failure

The car’s ignition switch is how the electrical charge is sent to the starter motor to turn the engine over. 

Of course, you know that the ignition is initiated by the key being turned – so if the ignition switch is faulty, there’s no way for the key turning to be registered by the starter motor! 

This can be one of the better issues to have, however, as an ignition switch repair or replacement is fairly simple and straightforward for an automotive technician. 

What to do next?

An ignition switch replacement is a relatively simple procedure and the parts are affordable and easy to come by. 

This is a repair you can do yourself, but it can be a complicated job removing all of the interior panels and screws that hold the dashboard furniture in place (especially if you’re not experienced!). 

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to make the repair yourself, you can call a Towingless technician to perform the repair quickly and affordably. 

Bad Alternator

The alternator takes the mechanical energy of your car’s drive belt and generates electricity to store in the battery. 

It’s part of the synchronized system that runs all of your car’s electrical systems! If the alternator isn’t working, you might find there are several systems that are affected 

It can overcharge your car’s electricals, causing overly bright lights on the dash or headlights. 

In other cases, the alternator can simply fail to provide electricity where needed and will prevent your car from starting. 

What to do next?

An alternator can be replaced fairly easily as it isn’t a complex task, but it does require a certain understanding of car mechanics. 

Otherwise, call a TowingLess technician to get your alternator replaced properly and quickly! 

Faulty Ground Strap

A ground strap is named after the service it renders, which is grounding the car to prevent dangerous or unwanted electrical discharges. 

It connects the engine of the car to either a negative battery terminal or to the chassis of the car. 

Grounding cables are in every car as a necessary safety precaution because of all of the electrical equipment that is present in a car, such as Radiator fans, AC compressor, Stereo, Alternator, Ignition system, and Sensors. 

If the ground strap is faulty then your car simply won’t start, and it’s best to seek an automotive technician to help with repairs or replacement. 

What to do next?

Call a TowingLess technician to replace your ground strap! 

Because it is a crucial part of the car’s electrical safety system, it is really important to get the repair right to ensure the long-term function of the ground strap and all of its important safety procedures. 

Faulty Fuel Pump

Faulty Fuel Pump

A fuel pump, as the name suggests, pumps fuel from the tank into the motor. Since a motor needs fuel to run, a faulty fuel pump prevents the engine from having any fuel to run! 

The fuel pump is a crucial part of your car. Since the fuel pump is located in the fuel tank, a faulty pump can cause a lot of cascading issues with your car and will require a replacement before you will be able to start your car. 

What to do next?

A fuel pump that is faulty will likely need to be completely replaced, so it’s best to reach out to a TowingLess mechanic to perform the necessary replacements on your car. 

Broken Power Cable

This may not be as common as other problems, but you may want to check this cable if you have checked everything else without any luck. First, check the cable connector bolts at the starter and the car battery to ensure they are tightened and have a proper connection.

What to do next?

Checking and replacing the broken power cable is a simple job, and you can find the part at any good auto parts store. Otherwise, call a TowingLess technician to perform the repairs for you!