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Engine will not crank all I hear is a click?

Tiny
RONALD DEVOLD
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 VOLVO S60
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 211,007 MILES
When depressing the brake pedal and pushing the start button, all I hear is a click. The battery is new. The relay is good. Need help. Also, no signal to starter when pressing start button. Attempted to send direct voltage to starter and just clicked. The engine is not locked. When I initially installed the starter, I sent direct voltage to starter solenoid and the engine turned. I have the same voltage from the battery wire to the starter. I am going to check signal going out of relay.
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Saturday, December 28th, 2024 AT 10:26 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,936 POSTS
Hi,

If you are sending power to the starter to engage it and you only get a click, that sounds like the starter itself is bad.

At the starter, you will have a heavy gauge red wire directly from the battery positive terminal. There is also a blue wire that is smaller. That is the trigger wire. There should not be power to the blue wire until the ignition is in the start position.

Have a helper try starting it while you check the blue wire for power. If there is power, replace the starter. If there is no power, let me know and we'll have to go through and check relays and power supplies. Also, take a look through this link and let me know if it helps:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Let me know.

Take care,

Joe

See pic below.

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Saturday, December 28th, 2024 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
RONALD DEVOLD
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
So I did not mention that at first when I installed the new starter, I sent power to the starter to make sure the engine will turn and to see if the starter is good. The starter engaged, rotating the engine. But when I pressed the start switch, it just clicked. I found that the starter relay was not sending power to the starter. Then I tested the starter relay by ohmning it and sending 12v. Relay was bad. I then bench tested the starter and it did on spin for a second but did not engaged. I sent the starter back for a replacement. While I'm waiting for the replacement, I connected my scan tool to see if the switch is engaging and the switch reads crank on the scan tool when pressing the start button. But here's the thing, on the starter relay it has 4 pins (1, 2, 3 and 5). Pin 3 is constant 12v. Pin 5 is the switch side going to the starter solenoid. Pins 1&2 is coming from the ECM. I checked both pins and they both have a lil over 9volts when the ignition is on. No change when pressing start switch. So, I'm lost right there. If I'm not mistaken, the relay should be activated from the ECM when pressing the start button. Does that mean I'm not getting a crank signal from the ECM? The relay is not being activated when attempting to start. Could it some kind of code like a crash code or Supplemental Restraints code that is not allowing the ECM to send signal to the starter relay. Attached is the starting system diagram.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,936 POSTS
On the relay, there is a primary and secondary circuit. The primary needs to get power from one wire and ground from the other. If the primary isn't completed, the secondary side won't close. If the ground isn't present, the relay will not work. Take a look through this link and let me know if it helps you:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
RONALD DEVOLD
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
I watched the video step by step. I wired the relay to a light bulb and the light came on indicating the relay was doing its job. Now I am back at not signal from the ECU to the relay.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2025 AT 10:12 AM
Tiny
RONALD DEVOLD
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
I received the starter and relay today and installed it. I tested the starter motor and it's good. I still am not getting a signal to starter.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2025 AT 2:37 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,936 POSTS
Hi:

Okay, here is what I need to be tested. Remove the relay and locate pins 85 and 86. I need confirmation that you have both power and ground to them. Both are signaled by the ECM. If that checks good, I want you to use a jumper wire to jump pins 30 and 87. When you jump them, the starter will engage. If it doesn't let me know.

Also, I attached a pic of the power to the relay. Please confirm power is present at fuse B34 In the underhood fuse box. If there is no power, check PF1 at the battery. That is the power supply to B34.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

See pic below
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Sunday, January 5th, 2025 AT 9:33 PM
Tiny
RONALD DEVOLD
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  • 113 POSTS
At first I checked the fuseable positive wire coming from the battery to the starter and I had voltage. Now I don't, so the fuse is bad. I ran another non fuseable wire to the starter from the battery(I am going to replace the fuseable wire). On the relay, pins 85 and 86 both read ground with the switch off. With the switch on, I am getting 11v on pin 86 and 3.4v on pin 85. The battery was reading 11.6v so it's on a charger now.
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Monday, January 6th, 2025 AT 3:06 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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When you try starting it, does pin 85 become a ground path? It should. Also, did you try jumping pins 30 and 87?

Joe
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Monday, January 6th, 2025 AT 7:14 PM
Tiny
RONALD DEVOLD
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  • 113 POSTS
No it still have the same voltage reading. And I did jump 30 and 87 and the starter engaged.
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Monday, January 6th, 2025 AT 8:03 PM

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