When I went to start my car today, it was really weird. There was clearly a power drain somewhere, and I heard a really fast (200 rpm maybe) clicking noise. Everytime I tried to start it, the clicking got less and less, and eventually (6 tried) the battery was almost kaputt. Any help is appreciated. The battery is literally brand new, also.

 

No idea... might just be flooded, but the clicking I don't know. Does it just sound like the normal starting but like extremely accelerated?

 

was it a wurring sound? if so, thats the starter spinning but the solnoid not kicking on the flywheel, but first, make sure your connections on you battery are nice and tight, check fuses, sometimes a battery change results in blown fuses, any loose grounds, and lastly the starter.

 

Wasn't really a wurring, like I said, it was really really fast clicking. It was doing the power drain thing last week, but dad got it to start. I really need it operational today for paint!

 

Did the starter turn the motor? If not, maybe your starter solenoid is bad (and clicking).

Edit: Does it click with the key in the "on" position, or the "start" position?

 

only clicks when I push it up into 'start' to attempt to turn the motor over.

 

It sounds like it may be the solenoid, but I'm not sure. If it's the solenoid, you can replace just that part for about $40. It takes about 30 minutes.

Here is the test for the solenoid from the FSM.

 

One last comment...

Your problem could also be that your starter pinion is not engaging with the ring gear on the flywheel. I don't remember whether that would cause the solenoid to click repeatedly, or just once.

I used to know these things, but I guess the brain cells holding that particular knowledge must have already died.

At any rate, the clicking you hear when you turn the key to "start" is likely a relay or magnetic switch, and I suspect it's the solenoid.

 

I was helping this guy in my apartment complex to start his RX-7 (an S4). It was making that same clicking noise (really fast, coming from the top of the engine). I thought it was flooded, so I did the EGI fuse thing, and after a couple of tries, it finally started. So I could be that yours is just flooded too, unless that guy has your same exact problem.