Clicks but won’t start

[cbbco]

When I push the start button, the lights turn on, ignition “clicks” but car won’t start. Any ideas what’s wrong? I don’t think it’s an issue with the key fob. I’ve tried two different fobs with brand, new batteries in both. I tried using the remote start on the fob, and putting the fob in the center console.

 

[GlennSullivan]

Battery. You can try cleaning the terminals and then jumping it. But probably better off just buying a replacement. Change it out and clean the terminals in the process. Batteries have become a maintenance item these days, I've changed 3 in both my 2011 and 2017 Expys, one of the batteries in the 2017 only lasted 18 months (which was replaced for free with Motorcraft 3 year free replacement warranty). I upgraded from 750 to 850 CCA. Here is what I have on both of mine now.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Yes, a failing or bad battery CAN cause the click-no-start issue, but there are several other things that can be culprits too, like bad cables, loose, corroded, or melted connections, failed relays etc....

But the battery is usually the easiest, fastest & cheapest place to start, so by all means go for it...

Having said that, I would strongly recommend you either get a trusted shop to check your battery, or buy your own tester....

Why ? because if you take it a parts store (Advanced, Autodrone etc), 99.999% of the time, THEIR tester will indicate some problem, thereby setting them up to sell you a new battery right then & there...

trust me, I've been there, done that in the past and now just go to my local shop if/when anything pops up related to the battery....

The last battery I put in my Expy was a NAPA Gold 60 month model, and that was over 3 years ago (I also went up from 750 to 850CCA's), neveranottaproblemo

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

When I push the start button, the lights turn on, ignition “clicks” but car won’t start. Any ideas what’s wrong? I don’t think it’s an issue with the key fob. I’ve tried two different fobs with brand, new batteries in both. I tried using the remote start on the fob, and putting the fob in the center console.

Posting the year, make, and model is always helpful to others who may have experienced a similar issue.

 

[Expensedition]

2014 Ford Expedition Limited.

Same issue, I checked battery terminals, changed battery since the battery was original, then found the problem. The wire from the solenoid to the motor on the starter had fried. Mostly due to be in the elements and also being poorly insulated.

Installed a remanufactured starter, I think it was like $250 with core. Easy day to bolt up.

V/r

SM

 

[ZigZagFred]

Hi - If your Expy will jump-start, it's a battery issue. If so, take it to a place that specializes in batteries like Battery Joe, or Batteries and Bulbs.

 

[cbbco]

It’s a 2017 Limited. The battery checked out fine. Looking at the starter today.

 

[callwill]

Checked out how? was it load tested?

 

[LexpeditionKy]

My avatar shows my 2012 Expy being towed.from a nonstarting mystery. Turned out to be a known issue. The giant positive wire attached to the starter had a connector corroded. It was under ESP warranty but had been in the shop 3 times and towed twice. My Googyear mechanic said it was common on Jeeps and Expeditions. I had the dealership shine up the connector and cover it in Silicone Dialectric grease and its never failed again.

And I agree about you needing a new car battery. Get a Walmart Everstart MAXX65 size. $148 after tax. Free delivery or installation. If your in store shopping check the dates. I just got 4 batteries and they were 2-26. 1 month old.

 

[Expensedition]

I looked back a few years and found the photo, see below.

The power wire (positive) is a fine strand braided copper conductor and has no insulation. With the copper wire exposed to salt from the road and all of the other environmental road conditions it will corrode. The braided "copper" cable may actually be copper clad aluminum since it corroded so rapidly. In the photo you can see where the corroded wire burned and separated resulting in an open circuit. For a while the oxidized cable must have acted like a resistor and added some load to the starter. It seemed like a bad battery or bad connection (which it was). Then one untimely day, when I really needed my truck to start.... it burned through.

On the new (remanufactured) starter I covered the exposed cable with high grade heat shrink tubing. This "fix" should have been performed at the manufacturer but I guess it may be part of the the built-in obsolescence.

The new starters (not this one) look different, I think they are designed with auto start/stop in mind.

V/r

SM

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

It’s a 2017 Limited. The battery checked out fine. Looking at the starter today.

What did you determine?

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Get a Walmart Everstart MAXX65 size. $148 after tax. Free delivery or installation.

nO, NO, & Hiel NO.....

Wally's batteries are trash, been there, done that, NEVER AGAIN !

For that same $$ you could have gotten a Napa Gold, with a 36mo pro-rated replacement warranty AND free installation too....

Guess what Wally will tell you if you take one back to them with issues:

"Contact the MFGR, we don't MAKE them, we just SELL them"... just like they did my Son after some so-called "50K mile tires" (A well-known NAME BRAND) that wore out at 18K miles

We filed a complaint with the mfgr, with no luck, then we took Wally to small claims court and won, the judge made them give him a new set of tires, mounted, balanced & installed, plus $100 for his grief, AND they had to pay the court costs of ~$350

 

[Expensedition]

Just like me, I put a Diehard battery in my 2014 Beast.

It was a Diehard Platinum AGM.

Why F around with what starts your baby.

V/r

SM