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Rapid clicking with no start. Sounds like the starter to me, thoughts?

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Old Oct 30, 2025 | 04:52 PM
  #1  
lzvzlm's Avatar
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Rapid clicking with no start. Sounds like the starter to me, thoughts?

New parts (5 months ago):
  • engine (all block parts except e shaft and rotars were replaced with new parts)
  • Spark plugs/coil packs/wires
  • transmission
  • Radiator
  • battery (replaced today, battery was 50%/needs charge but they did warrantied it anyways)
The car ran fine before parked, and it won't start now. The engine doesn't even sound like its trying to crank or turn over. I dont really have much time right now to be messing with it, but changing a starter is pretty quick. It wasn't driven for a short distance and parked, I had been driving for 40 minutes and then it sat parked for about a week so I doubt its flooded. I can hear the fuel pump engaging at least when the key is turned. I got a compression test 2 months ago from a friend and everything was 8+ across the board.

TLDR: Thoughts on replacing starter based on description and video?
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File Type: mov
m2-res_854p.mov (832.8 KB, 5 views)

Last edited by lzvzlm; Oct 30, 2025 at 05:07 PM.
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Old Oct 30, 2025 | 06:21 PM
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Is the engine turning with the starter? Watch the pulleys. It sounds normal, just not starting, but it doesn't sound like a starter problem. It does sound a bit fast, maybe the starter is turning without engaging the flywheel, which would be a starter solenoid problem.
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Old Oct 31, 2025 | 04:35 AM
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If you hear clicking and the engine isn't cranking l, I would suspect a power supply issue. The battery is new, so ensure both terminals are clean and tight on the battery posts. It won't hurt to see the source voltage in the battery by putting a multimeter on the battery. You should have 12V plus 1/2 or maybe .7 of a volt. Ensure your source voltage is good. The next thing I would do is check your constant positive connection at the starter. Ensure that connection is clean and tight. Also, check the trigger wire on the starter to ensure the connector is clean and tight on the blade pin on the starter. If those are all good, it's time to look at the ground point for the negative cable and the grounds for the power supply harness. Except for the negative cable itself, the power supply harness grounds are bolted to the front horizontal support bar. Ensure all of your grounds are clean and tight. Remember, the grounds that are secured by bolts, that the ground is completed through the threads of the bolt and not the head of the bolt. If you have a rusty bolt and rusty threads, replace the bolt and run a 6x1.0 tap down the welded nuts on the horizontal support bar and clean the threads up. Also ensure that the ground points on the harness are clean and free of corrosion.
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Old Nov 5, 2025 | 01:20 PM
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lzvzlm's Avatar
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Originally Posted by Loki
Is the engine turning with the starter? Watch the pulleys. It sounds normal, just not starting, but it doesn't sound like a starter problem. It does sound a bit fast, maybe the starter is turning without engaging the flywheel, which would be a starter solenoid problem.
Verified just now the engine is turning.

I confirmed that the engine is actually turning over. See attached video. Any recommendations on what to look at next?
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Old Nov 5, 2025 | 05:56 PM
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From: Montreal
Could be flooded. There's a deflood procedure that involves holding the gas all the way down while you crank. You can google it.
Check spark plugs, spark and fuel delivery. If it's flooded the plugs will be wet with fuel... But that confirms tou have fuel delivery.
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