Loud starter click/no start-no turn over

GEOFFWADSTEN

MEMBER
1998 FORD TAURUS
3.0L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
185,000 MILES

I have the car listed above GL model. It will not start or turn over. I just replace the starter due it the old one clicking. After replacing it is still does a loud single click and does not turn the motor over. I charged the battery to full before installing the new starter. I did notice a spark and some smoke coming from the terminals one of the time. I turned the key over to start and held it for a second I tightened them down but I am stumped. What could be the cause of the no start/no turn over? I can hear the starting engaging but nothing but a loud single click. Aall lights come on like normal, radio works. I am pretty good with motors but this has me stumped.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

The best suspect is a corroded battery cable down by the starter motor. They commonly corrode under the insulation where you can't see it, right by the terminal. To check for this, use a test light at the larger terminal on the starter solenoid. You'll find 12 volts there all the time. Now see what happens when a helper tries to crank the engine. If the cable is bad, the light will go off whenever the solenoid is engaged.

Also, any place you saw smoke indicates a bad connection. The additional clue here is if the other systems keep on working when you're trying to crank the engine, that proves the battery cable connections are okay. If that is where the bad connection was, the head lights, radio, and other systems would also go dead during cranking.