Does anybody have starter "clicking" problems?
 

When I go to start my car I get a......click, turn key off, turn key on, click, turn key off, and then it starts right up. I tried to do a search on starter problems but there were way to many threads with the word starter in it. My car has always done it, but it was maybe once or twice a year. It's started to do it almost every time I turned the car on. I ordered a Mazda starter(rebuilt I believe) and it is still doing it. My friend has the exact same problem. When he replaced his starter with the same model Mazda starter as me his car actually got worse. I thought I read that it was a grounding issue but I can't seem to find the thread. On the back of the starter there are 2 posts and one black plug. Is the black plug the ground? If so where does it attach to the chasis. I am in the process of moving and my service man. is packed away somewhere. Any help is greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance
Scott

If the starter is clicking and not turning over that is normally a bad starter solenoid which is part of the starter. If replacing the starter does not fix it you need to check the wires to the starter as well as the ignition switch. If the car only does this when the engine is hot and the starter has already been replaced then most likely you have a wiring issue.

I had the same problem and it was the ground. It would juct click,,then click somemore then finally it wouls start. I checked around and it ended up being the ground. It hasnt done it since.

i changed my starter of 230,xxx miles when that happened and it's all good.

The fact that I got that many miles makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

yea mine does the same thing i will check my ground as well and se if that is the problem

i have the same thing happening to me, at least it always starts

All of the connections on the starter look fine. The cable to the battery looks fine. What grounds should I be looking for? All of them?

DamonB, how do I check the ignition to see if it's working right?

Thanks

A comment from a respected P.R. tuner ,click-click, thats Mazda for you. RON

I thought the same thing (and it still could be the problem on his car), but after checking all the connections, adding grounds etc. on mine, it turned out to be a just a bad battery with low voltage. It's easy to check and could be alot easier and cheaper fix. ;)

I checked the battery before I even looked at the starter and the voltage was normal but thanks for the suggestion. I think I found the problem.......Some dumb shit installed one of those lame security devices that they use at dealerships, you know the plastic key card you have to put in a slot or the car won't start. Well I looked under the dash and it looked like they just twisted the wires and put electrical tape over it because when I jiggled it the car started right up. To make things worse they drilled holes in the dash to hold the peice of shit up. :(

I look at my Clicking problem as a Theft detainment/deterrant system