Help! Mechanical Click Under Engine Cover - Truck won't start

Okay, I'm in need some some help. I've tried searching the forum, but my problem seems pretty specific, and I'm not sure of the terminology to parry it down to the right search parameters.

On to the problem:

Went out to start the truck this morning - it was about 35 degrees with light frost. After turning the ignition, the starter didn't turn and the there was a loud, repetitive clicking from behind the instrument cluster. Power worked fine - all windows, radio, etc., worked.

Tried again this afternoon, and it did the same thing in 50 degree weather. Despite all indications it wasn't battery, I tried jumping it, but that didn't work.

Guy at O'Reilly thought it might be a relay, so I checked all of those and the fuses -- all fine.

When the GF turned the ignition while I was looking under the hood - the clicking sounded more mechanical and less electrical that when I was in the cabin, and also seemed to be coming from under the engine cover, down near the firewall. This is as far as I've gotten.

Any help determining this problem would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Maybe starter. Try and take something and peck on your starter. So you did try to jump? Maybe try a deffrent set of cables and/or make sure you had them hook to battery's good.

Good luck

 

Bang on the starter!

 

You have an 07. Does it have the original battery? If so, 5 year batteries generally last about 5 years. Buy a new battery.

 

I have a 09 sport and have already replaced battery in it!

 

Battery or dirty connection. The clicking is the starter solenoid.

 

Millertime; nice Truck! ^^ WOW.

 

Yep. Sounds like the starter. Try hitting it with something as previously suggested. Mine did the same thing when it started to go.

 

Thanks man!

 

Sounds like you know. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Had the same issue on my old 98 turned out to be the altenator...it even clicked rapidly when the new one was installed the first couple times of trying to turn over the engine why jumping...just needed a good ground on the jumpers some more juice and it fired right up...

 

If your battery is still the original,it may be the problem. You can test it by doing this, turn on your headlights and have someone watch the headlights. Then crank the engine with the headlights on, and if the headlights dim or go out, your battery is bad. If the lights stay lit and do not dim, then the starter relay or the starter is bad. Good Luck.

 

X1, just replaced mine and it was working fine.

 

You can also take the battery to a local advanced and they can tell you if it bad or not.

 

also good to check the terminal connections on the battery, ground, and starter. Had the same issues on a few cars and a wire brush fixed the problem.

 

Did you jump to the battery or to the starter???

 

Okay, problem solved.

It WAS the battery. At first I thought it wasn't because the power worked throughout the vehicle and I even tried jumping it to no success.

But then, just for due diligence, I unhooked it again and took it to O'Reilly to get it tested - figured I'd completely eliminate it as a reason. Turns out it was bad.

Just got a new Die Hard from Sears.

I'm pretty sure that it was the original battery -- which is awesome. For what it's worth, my truck was running a Group 27F battery. The Sears guy said he's only seen those in Land Cruisers and whatnot.

 

98% of the time it's the battery. It doesn't mean anything if your accessories and lights still work. If there is a dead cell your car will not start. Even trying to jump the battery won't work.

 

Cold weather kill a failing battery.

 

Yeah, a typical battery usually last 4 - 5 years.