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  #1  
Old 11-01-2013, 07:10 PM
Bassnectar Bassnectar is offline
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Unhappy Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

Hello everyone, I am new to these forums and seeking some experienced advice.

I appreciate any input you guys have, this is for my brothers ranger I am trying to fix for him it is a white 98 2.5L RWD Edge with a 5 speed manual and 134,xxx kilometers. Lowest km vehicle in our family!

It runs well and has so until last night.


The symptom is that as soon as the battery is connected all you get is a click click click click coming from behind the stereo. After removing the stereo and the dash I freaked out as I felt the clicking from the ECU. but later after unplugging the ecu found the clicking to be from a relay behind it. *Phew*.


So I unplugged the relay and the clicking is gone, but there is no power to any of the vehicle lights or anything in the cabin?. I am unsure what this relay is responsible for. And I am unsure if replacing it will have any benifit to the situation.


I have checked every fuse with my multimeter and all have 0.00 OHM resistance so they are not blown.

my brother bought a new battery and installed it when it died right after. But checking the battery shows 12.60 volts after sitting overnight in the wal mart parking lot so I don't believe that to be the issue.


Tomorrow I will be cleaning connection from the battery as far as I can trace as well as the grounds. this is really confusing me and I would like to help my brother out and fix this issue,

IF anyone has experienced something like this PLEASE chime in.!

CHeers,


Good to meet all of you

Last edited by Bassnectar; 11-01-2013 at 07:22 PM.
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  #2  
Old 11-01-2013, 07:42 PM
casey.mikl casey.mikl is offline
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Try replacing the relay.

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  #3  
Old 11-01-2013, 07:55 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

In the auxiliary relay box by the GEM module, there is an interior lamps relay. If it is faulty, goodbye interior lamps.

As for your starting issue, is it even trying to turn over?
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Old 11-01-2013, 08:01 PM
casey.mikl casey.mikl is offline
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If it's not trying to turn over but your hearing a click under the good open the hood and locate the starter relay. With the ignition on take a screw driver and touch both terminals together if it cranks your selenoid is bad. Mine already went out once and is going out again. I keep a screw driver in my truck in case it finally dies I haven't had a chance to go get a new one.

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1997 B2300 reg cab 2.3 Lima, 15x8.5 Mickey Thompson classic 2, 31x10.50 cooper discover at3, 7.5 open 4.10 rear, dynomax super turbo catback, alpine iva-w200 w/ nav, kicker 6x8s, alpine type R 8, alpine 250W mono amp, power bass 400.4, tool box & camper shell, compustar alarm/remote start.
1956 Ford F100 rust bucket with big plans!
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  #5  
Old 11-01-2013, 08:08 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

Quote:
Originally Posted by casey.mikl View Post
If it's not trying to turn over but your hearing a click under the good open the hood and locate the starter relay. With the ignition on take a screw driver and touch both terminals together if it cranks your selenoid is bad. Mine already went out once and is going out again. I keep a screw driver in my truck in case it finally dies I haven't had a chance to go get a new one.

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Starter solenoids and their relays aren't mounted behind the radio.

The clicking is coming from behind the radio bezel. He can physically feel the clicking on the auxiliary relay box.
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  #6  
Old 11-01-2013, 08:14 PM
casey.mikl casey.mikl is offline
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I'm saying if it isn't starting. Idk about the other stuff

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  #7  
Old 11-01-2013, 08:14 PM
Bassnectar Bassnectar is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

thanks for the input, the relay that was clicking was located behind the radio to the right, behind what I believe to be the ECU. Removing the relay did nothing but stop the clicking.

I am not getting power anywhere else in the vehicle, when I unplug the negative terminal and then plug it in and cycle the key sometimes I will get momentary power to the dash lights but it cuts out quickly. I do not hear a clicking from under the hood but I will check again tomorrow.

Where is the starter solenoid? It will not even attempt to turn over.
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  #8  
Old 11-01-2013, 08:20 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassnectar View Post
thanks for the input, the relay that was clicking was located behind the radio to the right, behind what I believe to be the ECU. Removing the relay did nothing but stop the clicking.

I am not getting power anywhere else in the vehicle, when I unplug the negative terminal and then plug it in and cycle the key sometimes I will get momentary power to the dash lights but it cuts out quickly. I do not hear a clicking from under the hood but I will check again tomorrow.

Where is the starter solenoid? It will not even attempt to turn over.
The starter relay in the fuse box under the hood also controls the ignition switch. Should be a 50amp square see-through relay. Check it and see if it's good.

Starter solenoid is mounted on the actual starter.
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  #9  
Old 11-01-2013, 08:27 PM
casey.mikl casey.mikl is offline
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Mine is mounted on driver fender

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  #10  
Old 11-01-2013, 08:32 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

Quote:
Originally Posted by casey.mikl View Post
Mine is mounted on driver fender

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That's the older style. I think it changed in 98.
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  #11  
Old 11-01-2013, 08:54 PM
Bassnectar Bassnectar is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

there are no see through relays in the fuse box. there is a 50a fuse, again I checked all the fuses with a multimeter and all read 0.00 resistance and not overload,

I don't know how to check relays. there is 4 smaller relays, and 1 larger relay. the relay from the dash was bigger than all of them. I will trace the wiring to the starter to see if I can spot a solenoid tomorrow as well as disconnect and clean all the connections that I am able to.

I remember being an idiot I never plugged the ECU or GEM whatever it is box back in. would that cause dash / other lights to not function after removing the clicking relay?
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  #12  
Old 11-01-2013, 09:03 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassnectar View Post
there are no see through relays in the fuse box. there is a 50a fuse, again I checked all the fuses with a multimeter and all read 0.00 resistance and not overload,


I remember being an idiot I never plugged the ECU or GEM whatever it is box back in. would that cause dash / other lights to not function after removing the clicking relay?
98 is probably different than what my 02 wiring diagram shows.

Yes, the GEM controls the interior lamp relay, power window switches, wiper/washer, headlights, etc.
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  #13  
Old 11-01-2013, 10:55 PM
zekew64 zekew64 is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fordzilla80 View Post
The starter relay in the fuse box under the hood also controls the ignition switch. Should be a 50amp square see-through relay. Check it and see if it's good.

Starter solenoid is mounted on the actual starter.
Actually, with the starter system, the starter relay is on the fender, the solenoid is on the starter itself. As for the clicking behind the radio bezel, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's the PCM relay. IMO, if that is what's going bad, that would cause the truck to not start, as well as cause no lights to come on when the truck is attempting to start, specifically the dash dummy lights.

What I would check is to see if there is something on the other side of the firewall that's actually the cause. The relay clicking continuously means that something is feeding too much power and, more than likely, not grounded properly.
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  #14  
Old 11-02-2013, 01:39 AM
Bassnectar Bassnectar is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

I forgot to include this as the relay with the issue, and the module beside it? pcm? Gem? looks like the pcm (ecu) of the car to me?


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  #15  
Old 11-02-2013, 03:44 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: Won't start. Loud clicking from Relay

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassnectar View Post
I forgot to include this as the relay with the issue, and the module beside it? pcm? Gem? looks like the pcm (ecu) of the car to me?


Forget the relay for now.
With every thing hooked back together and the battery charged do YOUR HEADLIGHTS WORK?
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