what could it be??

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 04:46 PM

Took my 82 sc for a ride and it ran super shut it down and all it would do is click click. When i went to start it . I charged the battery cause the lites were dim and after the charge it still just went click. Is it the starter?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Check your grounds.

makaio · 12-31-2002, 05:05 PM

Like Mike said, check your grounds (battery, tranny) and check your connections.

If that aint it, could be the solenoid saying good-bye.

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 05:26 PM

ok will do thankyou

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Also check the volts at the battery....should be 12.5-13 volts at rest, 13-13.5 at idle....if ya get it started.....14+ at 2500 rpms. Have you tried bump starting it or banging on the solenoid with a BFH?

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 05:31 PM

no but i have had problems with starter it hits a spot on the flywheel and man you want to duck.

masraum · 12-31-2002, 05:32 PM

Believe it or not batteries can go bad like that. I have had the very same thing happen. The battery won't start the car, but is showing 12.5 volts. The true test at that point is to load test the battery (pretty much any auto parts store can do that) which will show if the battery has any Amps. If it is not at least 12 volts then it needs to be charged before it can be tested. I have had a couple go bad like that.

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 05:35 PM

The thing that erks me is that it was running great went to breakfast with my son and it started fine when we left.go figure

Kevin Stewart · 12-31-2002, 05:52 PM

I had this problem, if got the motor completely up to temperature for a awhile the starter would over heat, then click click, when it cooled it started, new starter and no more problems, for the price of a starter and solenoid I would just replace both at the same time, Kevin

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the replies

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

If it is a hot start problem....use the BFH, it will free up the solenoid and away ya go. Happens ALL the time on 914s, 356s and 912s....

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 06:15 PM

Yea it did cool down and then it still wouldnt start. I also tried starting it from my battery charger and it still wouldnt start all the guages went a little wacky and i didnt try it again When i mean wacky they fluttered

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Sounds like a battery to me....will it start with a jump or with another battery? How many volts does it show with everything off?

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 06:23 PM

Its hard to tell cause i have a charger and it has green red and yellow its in the green area which is good according to the manuel

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Get a volt meter from someone.....or go buy one before the fireworks go off.....

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 06:26 PM

Ok right now the battery is out of the car Thanks again you have been very helpful

Kevin Stewart · 12-31-2002, 06:35 PM

Ok Paul we also had that problem, My car is a 82 sc, the connection at the cdi box (the plug) had corroded, all i did was clean it, another problem is the green wire to the distributor, and door number three is the alarm, my alarm used to cherp for no reason, and this will cause a no start problem but its usual stalls the car as your driving with the alarm but starts right back up. my guess would be the cdi connect if you do clean it remember to take a ice pick or something with a sharp tip and close the female connections a little so they are not so loose, widebody had some wires go bad to his a couple inches inside the loom, have you turned your fuses lately, anyway keep us informed, Kevin

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 06:44 PM

I didnt know about turning fuses. When i bought this car it was from the original owner its almost mint with 80000 miles he replaced the starter before i bought it. Ive only put 300 miles on it in a year. so im gonna check the box in the engine compartment and roll the fuses, does that mean turn them around or roll them

Kevin Stewart · 12-31-2002, 06:56 PM

Yes exactly that turn them, look at my 3.6 conversion brain part three post look at the picture you will see a picture of the cdi the plug plugs in the bottom, the ground strap they are talking about is on the right side of the tranny all the way up close to the body where the two bolts bolt the tranny to the car, also stick your key in the door alarm and turn it on and off once, is your battery cables corroded, this also seems to be a problem, Kevin

72 four door · 12-31-2002, 06:59 PM

I dont think i have an alarm?