Car guru's need help. im stumped. (video)
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Car guru's need help. im stumped. (video)
Not on any mazda forums so i figured i'd try my luck here..
So i went to start my 1999 mazda protege today. nothing. not even a click.
battery light on dash flickers. figured maybe i left my lights on.. threw charger on it. it won't boost and it says battery is full charge. double checked with volt meter. 13.45 volts at the battery.
i cleaned the terminals.
now when ignition switch is in the on/start position, i get a clicking noise from my fuse box under the hood. i don't see any blown fuses. charge/battery light on dash still flickers.
loose connection somewhere? replace fusebox? i checked connections into fuse box. all wires are intact with none showing any wear, excessive corrosion or open points that could create a ground.
here is the video of the sound the fusebox makes when i turn car to on/start position.
fusebox - YouTube
any ideas?
any help would be appreciated!
So i went to start my 1999 mazda protege today. nothing. not even a click.
battery light on dash flickers. figured maybe i left my lights on.. threw charger on it. it won't boost and it says battery is full charge. double checked with volt meter. 13.45 volts at the battery.
i cleaned the terminals.
now when ignition switch is in the on/start position, i get a clicking noise from my fuse box under the hood. i don't see any blown fuses. charge/battery light on dash still flickers.
loose connection somewhere? replace fusebox? i checked connections into fuse box. all wires are intact with none showing any wear, excessive corrosion or open points that could create a ground.
here is the video of the sound the fusebox makes when i turn car to on/start position.
fusebox - YouTube
any ideas?
any help would be appreciated!
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
the noise is not coming from the starter. it's coming from the fusebox. it is not a bad solenoid in the starter i am 100% sure because i know what that sounds like.
the noise is there when i have the ignition in the on position. i am not turning the key at all.
the noise is there when i have the ignition in the on position. i am not turning the key at all.
#7
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
I'm obviously not sure what meter you're using, but if it has a recording feature (or even min/max feature) set it to record and pull up the lowest value it gives when you try to crank it. If the value drops below 8Vdc, then the voltage isn't good enough for the relay to latch properly which is what is causing the relay to chatter. If voltage however doesn't change (or changes nominally) while trying to crank, then either the relay itself is bad or there could be a weak ground as already suggested. This doesn't at all look like a starter issue at this point though.
:edit: I just noticed your last post there....
So the relay is chattering just when the key put to the accessory on position, or when you try to crank the engine?
:edit: I just noticed your last post there....
So the relay is chattering just when the key put to the accessory on position, or when you try to crank the engine?
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
the fusebox only makes this noise when the ignition is in the accessory on position. also the charge/battery light on the dash flickers which to me means noticeable fluctuations in voltage.
im thinking a ground somewhere in the fusebox itself but haven't started pulling it apart yet.
i wish it was dark here so i could see if there is arcing.
im thinking a ground somewhere in the fusebox itself but haven't started pulling it apart yet.
i wish it was dark here so i could see if there is arcing.
#9
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Check the resistance between the primary ground directly on the fuse box and the battery negative, then check from the ground on the fuse box to directly to the engine block, then check from the engine block back to the battery. Resistance should be no more than .7-1ohm or so. You may also want to check resistance from the fuse box to the chassis, and battery to chassis as well just to be sure. Also, which relay exactly is chattering?
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
was playing around in the fusebox and narrowed the noise down to a box attached to the fusebox. I can put my finger on it and actually feel it buzzing. it's a relay. it's labelled "B110 head". when I took it out the noise is gone.
looks like a headlight relay. not sure what it would have to do with the starter.
it is the same as this...
Imasen Mazda Relay B110 AC Horn Headlight FOG Starter | eBay
UPDATE:
ended up swapping the horn for the headlight relay. the buzzing/clicking noise in the fusebox is gone. but I can hear the starter clicking really faintly now.
so now it's looking like it may be the starter like some had suggested.
looks like a headlight relay. not sure what it would have to do with the starter.
it is the same as this...
Imasen Mazda Relay B110 AC Horn Headlight FOG Starter | eBay
UPDATE:
ended up swapping the horn for the headlight relay. the buzzing/clicking noise in the fusebox is gone. but I can hear the starter clicking really faintly now.
so now it's looking like it may be the starter like some had suggested.
Last edited by Cobalt_Daddy; 09-14-2013 at 02:01 PM.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
going to check the main grounds and give the hammer a try anyways.
Last edited by Cobalt_Daddy; 09-14-2013 at 03:03 PM.
#15
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Electrical gremlins can definitely be tough to find at times. Generally speaking though, only a few things will cause a relay to chatter; weak voltage, weak/bad ground or a bad relay. Start simple and move on from there. If you know for an absolute fact that your voltage is good at the fuse box AND the 12V+ relay constant, move on to check your ground resistances. If all that checks out, now try applying a load to the circuit in question. Again, check voltage while trying to apply a load or while engaging the circuit and also check your grounds. Things can change vastly in a circuit when loads are applied.
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
CAA towed it to my mechanic. they boosted it.
he said.. ya just a dead battery.
i said well dead batteries don't usually light up all your electrical systems and show 12.45V on a voltmeter or fully charged on a battery charger..
heard of batteries having voltage but not amperage. maybe the battery itself took a ****. dunno.
in any case should have it back tomorrow. thanks for the help to all who gave input! much appreciated!
he said.. ya just a dead battery.
i said well dead batteries don't usually light up all your electrical systems and show 12.45V on a voltmeter or fully charged on a battery charger..
heard of batteries having voltage but not amperage. maybe the battery itself took a ****. dunno.
in any case should have it back tomorrow. thanks for the help to all who gave input! much appreciated!
#17
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: 01-21-08
Location: Woodstock, NY
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was just reading through all this and saw you had it fixed already but my guess would have been with the battery. if it was at 13V without recently running or anything like that it could have a dead cell inside or a shorted cell to give you a reading like that.
Glad to see you got it fixed tho.
Glad to see you got it fixed tho.
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
no idea to be honest. but it's been meticulously maintained. it looks new for a 13 year old car
apparently the battery had a dead cell. showed full voltage but only made 78 amps haha
all fixed.
apparently the battery had a dead cell. showed full voltage but only made 78 amps haha
all fixed.
#20
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
I hate to quote myself BUT I think I will anyways..
Should have been your first test..
I'm obviously not sure what meter you're using, but if it has a recording feature (or even min/max feature) set it to record and pull up the lowest value it gives when you try to crank it. If the value drops below 8Vdc, then the voltage isn't good enough for the relay to latch properly which is what is causing the relay to chatter. If voltage however doesn't change (or changes nominally) while trying to crank, then either the relay itself is bad or there could be a weak ground as already suggested. This doesn't at all look like a starter issue at this point though.
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
twilson380
2.0L LNF Performance Tech
6
09-14-2015 10:52 AM