Can you be more specific as to that sound? If this is a rapid, repeated clicking, like a buzzing noise, a common cause is a weak, run down, or defective battery. A jump-start from another car will usually get the engine started.
If you hear only a single, rather loud clunk, each time you turn the ignition switch to "crank", that can be due to a badly-corroded battery cable, but there is a much more common cause on your model. That is worn copper contacts inside the starter motor's solenoid housing. Most people just replace the entire starter with a professionally-rebuilt unit, but inexpensive repair kits are available for this problem. The repair can be handled by a competent do-it-yourselfer. The biggest clue to this problem is the engine will eventually crank and start if you cycle the ignition switch repeatedly. Most commonly you have to do that two or three times at first. As the contacts continue to wear away, within a month or two it might take a half dozen tries before the starter engages. Chrysler used a similar version of this starter. In the case of my mother's Grand Caravan, I ignored the problem for over six months until one night she lost count after 700 tries, and a blister on her thumb, before it finally started. You can be sure I heard about it that night. If this sounds like what might be the cause, I'll describe the repair and put together a photo of the parts needed. You can find the parts at a starter / generator rebuilding company for just a few bucks. Most larger cities have at least one of them. The parts are also available in kits at farm and home stores and even some hardware stores.
SPONSORED LINKS
Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 AT 4:52 PM
