Clicking noise when trying to start?

[ACE_187]

My bike has had trouble starting before but usually I could just wait a second, try again and it would work.

I left it for like 3 days (the battery is pretty much new) but when it wouldn't start I tried to jump it off but it does the same thing. Makes these clicking noises.

So I'm guessing that means it's not the battery and if it's making clicking noises that means the starter solenoid or however you spell it is doing it's job yes? Does this mean it's something as simple as a bad connection?

[Midnight Sun]

is it trying to turn over?

if not, and all you are hearing is click click click, your solenoid is sticking.

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by Habanero

is it trying to turn over?

if not, and all you are hearing is click click click, your solenoid is sticking.

No, if I understand what you're saying. It's making the starting noise but the engines not trying to turn over. But if the solenoid is sticking what does that mean I should do?

[ratfrink]

Sounds like the solenoid. Basically it's a big switch - when you turn the key, it flips this switch over (which is the clicking noise) which completes the circuit to the starter motor. Over time the contacts get covered in deposits from the current, which is why they stop working.

Basically you can either repair it or replace it. If you can take your solenoid apart, clean all the contacts up with wire wool, and try it again. If you can't get it apart, you'll have to replace it: but before you do that, it's worth going round with a circuit-tester just chasing wires in case there is a loose connection somewhere.

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by ratfrink

Sounds like the solenoid. Basically it's a big switch - when you turn the key, it flips this switch over (which is the clicking noise) which completes the circuit to the starter motor. Over time the contacts get covered in deposits from the current, which is why they stop working.

Basically you can either repair it or replace it. If you can take your solenoid apart, clean all the contacts up with wire wool, and try it again. If you can't get it apart, you'll have to replace it: but before you do that, it's worth going round with a circuit-tester just chasing wires in case there is a loose connection somewhere.

I just tried tapping it and it almost turned over a couple times. You still think it's the solenoid?

[ratfrink]

Probably. I mean, if you tap the solenoid and it almost works, then it's probably the solenoid that's causing the problem, right?

Have you checked that the starter pinion isn't jammed? You can release it by putting the bike in gear and rotating the rear wheel - well, that's how you release it in a car, anyway.

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by ratfrink

Probably. I mean, if you tap the solenoid and it almost works, then it's probably the solenoid that's causing the problem, right?

Have you checked that the starter pinion isn't jammed? You can release it by putting the bike in gear and rotating the rear wheel - well, that's how you release it in a car, anyway.

I'll try that. Thanks. I hope I didn't mess anything up trying to start it.

[944]

Make sure the battery terminals are tight

[MediumD]

Originally Posted by ACE_187

It's making the starting noise but the engines not trying to turn over.

Uhh... so is the "starting noise" a click or a series of clicks, or is it the loud whirring of the starter motor?

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by MediumD

Uhh... so is the "starting noise" a click or a series of clicks, or is it the loud whirring of the starter motor?

I thought it was a lot of clicks but when I went back it would only click once. Idk if it was like that before or not but the engine did almost turn over a couple of times then. And I think some of the noise was the starter motor too, but that couldn't be right, because if the solenoid is messed up nothing would be going to the starter motor? Or maybe the solenoid isn't able to get quite enough to the motor.

Hopefully I get it running today. I hate stuff like this going wrong and not knowing exactly what the problem is. I'm going to take the battery/solenoid out mess with it put it back in and if it doesn't work buy a new one I guess and hope that works.

[ACE_187]

Ok I took the solenoid out. A guy told me if it's the solenoid you can just put power to the two wires running to the starter and it should work. But on mine there is also a plug in the solenoid that I guess gives power to the lights/ignition. It's like a four-prong plug across from the two terminals that go the starter. This is so frustrating

[ratfrink]

Just follow the wires, bro.

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by ratfrink

Just follow the wires, bro.

Thats what I'm saying. I know the two terminals and the wires that connect to them that go to the starter, but there is a "plug" that gives power to the ignition and all that. If I just put power to those two wires and turn the key nothing happens. So I need the solenoid I think to start it. Bypassing it means also not having any power to the ignition.

[ACE_187]

Thats what it looks like in the picture on the top, on one side is the terminals that connect to the starter, on the other side across from the fuse is the plug that has to be plugged in to get the ignition/lights to work.

[Kwinnie Bogan]

If it's just ONE click, it can be the starter motor, sometimes. Sometimes this can be a sort of a metal on metal screach-free sliding noise followed by a 'thunk!!', sometimes just a small 'tick' that you could describe as a click.

It was definitely sounding like a solenoid from your first description though.

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by Kwinnie Bogan

If it's just ONE click, it can be the starter motor, sometimes. Sometimes this can be a sort of a metal on metal screach-free sliding noise followed by a 'thunk!!', sometimes just a small 'tick' that you could describe as a click.

It was definitely sounding like a solenoid from your first description though.

Thanks. I ordered a new one. I went to the store and they had one but it was over $100 and I'd already looked online and they were like $20 for that I'll just wait a few days

But yeah, it's one click for every time I press the start button. The click, or tick or whatever is coming from the solenoid/relay you can put your hand on it and feel it move a little. Is it not supposed to? I thought someone said that was the solenoid trying to convert it or whatever

[Kwinnie Bogan]

You bought one? I suppose $20 is worth it, even if it turns out to be wiring you've at least got a second handy. No man can have enough parts lying around.

If the solenoid isn't getting enough power to it, it won't be able to quite kick properly, and your problem may lie there. A multimeter would have cost you just as much anyway, to potentially diagnose the same thing (though they're very good tools to have, and worth putting a few coins on at some stage).

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by Kwinnie Bogan

You bought one? I suppose $20 is worth it, even if it turns out to be wiring you've at least got a second handy. No man can have enough parts lying around.

If the solenoid isn't getting enough power to it, it won't be able to quite kick properly, and your problem may lie there. A multimeter would have cost you just as much anyway, to potentially diagnose the same thing (though they're very good tools to have, and worth putting a few coins on at some stage).

Cool so it doesn't sound like the starter motor? I took the old solenoid out and tried to scrape the terminals and the plug a little too it didnt really make a difference

[MediumD]

Originally Posted by Kwinnie Bogan

No man can have enough parts lying around.

A multimeter would have cost you just as much anyway,

You do end up running out of space sooner or later, so yes you can have more than enough parts lying around.

Also, assuming he's in the USA, multimeters from Harbor Freight are about three dollars. And now and again they'll print a coupon in their ad for a free one.

Originally Posted by ACE_187

Cool so it doesn't sound like the starter motor? I took the old solenoid out and tried to scrape the terminals and the plug a little too it didnt really make a difference

It sounds like you didn't give the best description in the world, and as such, we didn't give the best advice in the world. But you did order a new solenoid, and assuming you install it properly, we'll all know in a couple days...

[Kwinnie Bogan]

Speaking for myself I have enough room to amass what would be a good sized junkyard

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by MediumD

You do end up running out of space sooner or later, so yes you can have more than enough parts lying around.

Also, assuming he's in the USA, multimeters from Harbor Freight are about three dollars. And now and again they'll print a coupon in their ad for a free one.




It sounds like you didn't give the best description in the world, and as such, we didn't give the best advice in the world. But you did order a new solenoid, and assuming you install it properly, we'll all know in a couple days...

Should be Monday. But I've been thinking. Is it possible the battery is the problem and something is wrong with the jumper cables/batter terminals on my car that is why I couldnt jump it off?

Because the solenid, starter, and wiring shouldn't just "go bad" after not using them for a few days right? Batteries do that, but it's a new battery. I've been charging it though. But I jumped it off with the same cables with my sisters car before.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Habanero

if not, and all you are hearing is click click click, your solenoid is sticking.

Yup was just gonna suggest this may be happening...

I have heard cars sometimes doing this and thankfully usually waiting a few minutes results in good action..

[booster86]

Anything electrical can "just go bad". With wires, the only way it can just go bad is being cut,disconnected,chewed,ect. You also could have had corrosion building in a connector or the wires for a while, and just now happens to be enough to cause a problem. Considering that you said sometimes it wouldnt turn over the first time trying to start, I would say nothing "just went bad" in your case. Jumping off a small battery(ie- bike,lawnmower,ATV, ect.) with a car battery is extremely hard on the smaller battery and will easily cause premature failure. I've screwed up a few of my batteries that way until I found that out. However, the bike should start if you're jumping it off and the battery was the only problem. If you hit the starter and it started slowly turning, replace the starter or get it rebuilt. You can also hot wire the starter to test it and bypass the solenoid. Assuming you only have one wire that goes to the starter its self on yours, connect a piece of speaker wire(or any type of wire you have laying around) to the positive side of the battery and using the other end of that wire, touch it to where the starter wire connects on the starter. That will by pass all the wires and solenoid. While your testing wire is connected to the positive side of the battery, don't let the other end touch any part of the frame,motor, or anything metal. It will will throw all sorts of sparks. If it doesn't turn over, the starter is bad. If the starter works that way, use the test wire and jump the solenoid. Using the test wire, connect it to one side of the solenoid and with the end of the test wire to the other side of the solenoid. The two wires on the solenoid you're connecting to should be the biggest ones(one comes from the battery and one goes to the starter). If it still starts then, the solenoid is bad. If it doesn't start by doing this but does by putting power directly to the starter, the problem will be in your wires.

[JustinBieberz]

I would double check the battery too