Help - Engine Clicking

[fordman]

try wiggling the cables from the battery to the solinoid. they might be loose on the battery. or he could try tapping on the starter and then starting it. or the battery could just be low. is he just trying to unload it for drop off? why does he need to keep unloading it unless it at your place.

[Supermike]

I don't know why he's shuffling them around. I guess he had a load this morning and another to pick up tomorrow, so he was shuffling mine toward the back before he heads down this way.

Thanks for the tips... I haven't heard back from him in the past hour or so, but he was asking ME what I wanted to do! It was working when he loaded it! Grr...

[lightning_msd]

that happend to me but it was the starter.

[Supermike]

Well, I finally called him and he said he was waiting for a flatbed tow truck. Apparently his hauler does not have a winch (he "only hauls working vehicles" -- which mine DID). He is going to try and have the tow truck load up my truck, then roll it onto his truck. Sounds like a stretch to me.

I asked him if he had tapped the starter or checked the cable from the batter to the soleniod. I suggested he could try the 'ol screwdriver to the solenoid method. He told me he had checked it, and the battery/sol. cable was loose. He removed it, but now he can't get it back on. Apparently the weather up there today is sub-0°.

I asked him to keep me posted, but haven't heard back from him in the past few hours. This is making me nervous. He left WA with a truck that was running fine, took it to someplace so dang cold who knows if it would run, removed it from his truck, and now can't get it back on. So goes my luck.

[Supermike]

Back in business... partly. He got the tow truck to use it's wench to get my truck back on his. Said he also got the solenoid back on, but now the brake lights "won't go off for some reason", so he unhooked the positive battery cable for now.

Anyhow... it's headed this way. Guess I'd better call my mechanic tomorrow.

[jor]

Well, it sounds like it's going to work out. Great. The clicking solenoid just sounds like a low battery charge or a loose cable. Re the car shuffing, it's common in that the drop off times don't reflect the car loading sequence. Keep us posted.
jor

[The Good Humor Man]

It is COLD here in Chicago -9 when I got up this morning.

I am sure that finding a tow truck was not a easy task with the BEARS playing, and being so cold.

I am glad that he got it on the truck, I do have a large fenced in storage yard, if it ever happens again, and anyone needs a place to put something for awhile, keep me in mind.

I am happy to help out those who helped me so often.

[Supermike]

Yeah... the tow truck is gonna cost me $85, since the driver didn't have a wench and his jump box was broken. Lucky me. I'm a little peeved, but I'll get over it I guess. That's $85 bucks off something else, though, like replacing the piece of side trim I'm missing.

Thanks for the offer on the storage yard, GHM.

[The Good Humor Man]

It isn't that far from Chicago to Indiana, did it make it?
What was the problem.

[fordman]

when he put the solinoid back on i bet he transversed the two plug wires on the front of it. the red and brown one.

[Supermike]

He made it this evening after plowing through a nice little snowfall in Indy. I guess he had a transport there, as well. The engine compartment and bed of my truck were both full of snow.

One thing I did NOT have to do was pay the $85 tow truck fee. We rolled it off his rig and I pulled my car up and hooked cables to it, and it fired right up. His face just blanked and he said "well... I guess you don't owe me $85". He apologized for not being thorough enough in trying to get it started. In fairness to him, he was a very nice and honest guy. I'm sure the sub-0 temps weren't helping him.

Anyhow, I'll check that out tomorrow, Fordman. When I got her home, I just parked it. Went to fire it back up and could not (click click again). Must be something in the battery. It's cold as a witches teat here, too. I just pulled the pos. lead off for the night.

[fordman]

if it started then it might be working right with the two wires he may have put the wrong wires on the outside studs that control the charging circut.

[Supermike]

Thanks... I've got the wiring diagram and I'll check it out menana.

[19FORD67]

I had the same problem once after i just got a new battery. I got underneath the truck and banged on the starter with a hammer. Dont beat
it to death but hit it pretty squarely. It then fired right up no problems since.