2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Starting problem

STAINLESS7STEEHLER

MEMBER
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
2.5L
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES

Car starting to make rapid clicking noise when trying to start it. After about 5 tries it eventually starts and at that point when it does start there's like a burnt electrical smell. I notice after I start it and let it run for a minute, then shut it off, I'll go to turn it on and starts right up and I can shut if off again and it will start right back up no problem. But when the car sits turned for more than 5 minutes it goes back the same problem with the. Clicks and the multiple times of turning it over before it eventually starts again.

2 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,879 POSTS

This is typical of a bad battery or dirty cable connections. Start by measuring the battery voltage right on the posts. You should find 12.6 volts if it's good and fully-charged. If it's closer to 12.2 volts, charge it at a slow rate for an hour, then see how it cranks.

Now, if you can get it to act up while you're under the hood, take two voltage readings while a helper tries to crank the engine. First, put one voltmeter probe on the positive battery post and the other probe on the cable clamp on that post. This test can even work by just turning on the head lights and heater fan so some current is trying to flow. Ideally you should find 0.0 volts, but it is okay to have as much as 0.2 volts there. If it's higher, take that connection apart and clean it.

Do the same test on the negative post and cable clamp. Clean that connection if the voltage is higher than 0.2 volts.