Hi,

My 2005 CF SRT6 has run without issue until last Friday. I started it up with no problem and took the car to the store. Upon attempting to restart, the car would turn on , then click as if it was going to crank over but wouldn't crank. After several attempts; possibly 10/12, the car fired up and I was able to drive home with no problem. Moving forward, the car will not consistantly crank/start. I did the rcm repair today after researching here. My solder looked to be in good condition, but I resoldered anyways as it was easy and quick. I put the rcm back in, hit the key and still the same issue; the car clicks, but will not crank over to fire up. I then decided to have the battery tested and found my battery to be in poor condition ; just about junk. I purchased a new battery and put it in this afternoon. I attempted to start up the car and still the same. Clicks, but doesn't crank. After multiple attempts, the car starts and runs no problem. I shut the car off and the same thing happens; I get a click, but no crank. This is very strange as up till last Friday, I have had no problems with the exception of recent dealer service and changing of the transmission conductor plate , filters and fluid. I have done a bunch of digging here and am not sure where to go next. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Could the starter be bad? I have no visible codes and everything else seems to work just fine. That is my only thought at this point. Thanks in advance guys. This forum is great.. Oh and not to mention it is my birthday today. Clearly the gremlims are out to get me.

 

Is this an automatic ?
If so, then the pulse module may be the problem.
If it's a manual, then maybe the clutch switch .....

On either one, could be the starter, starter solenoid or the big 12v cable from the battery to the starter.

 

Pretty sure it's a stick shift SRT6


Have you checked the end of the negative cable.. good.. tight.. clean?

 

I would check the wire at the terminals and the end where the negative grounds really well. I have had other cars where that was the issue. I am sure others more knowledgeable will chime in.

 

Hi Guys, It is an automatic. Sorry, left that out. Thanks for the feedback. I am pretty handy until it gets to chasing electrical.

 

Mrmiatra, thanks for you time. Ground is good and clean from the battery to the fender, but I have not taken a look at the stater. will need to get it into the garage for that.

 

Any idea exactly what/where the click sound is coming from?

 

Dang Greg !
do you expect me to read the forum titles too ?

 

Well of course not!.. but when is the last time you changed a conductor plate on a stick?

 

George.. does the power go through that little HEAVY fuse box in the front of the battery..? This clicking a few times and then fires off just makes me think corrosion somewhere along the path.

 

The power to the starter itself goes direct from the battery B+ to the starter terminal, no fuse.
The power for the pulse module does go through one of those big fuses in the HEAVY box.
The pulse module only engages the starter solenoid.

 

I agree, something to make starting intermittent. If the starter works occasionally it's probably not the starter, so corrosion, loose connection, relay?

 

I wouldn't rule out the solenoid on the starter.. would be "unusual".. but I wouldn't say impossible.

 

Thanks again for all the help. I need to wait for the skys to clear and will then get under the car and start tracing the wiring from the starter back. Is there a way to rule out the pulse module as an issue.

 

Other than pulling one from a friend's car and trying it, no.

( BTW, it is located in the underhood fuse panel closest to the fender )

 

Can you bypass the pulse module and jumper the starter solenoid?

 

Ok guys,
Just wanted to follow up. Again, thanks for all the assistance. I jacked up the car today , pulled the splash panel to get at the starter and did my best to trace the wiring and to check the starter connections. Everything looked good to me. So to this point as a recap. I pulled the rcm solder posts looked good but I soldered them again anyways. Car would still only click when the ignition was placed in the start position. I then took my battery out and had it tested. Battery health check came back as hanging on by a thread so I purchased a new battery and put it in last Friday . I still had just a click when turning the key to the start position. When I was tracing back the starter connections today , I also took a rubber mallet and tapped on a socket extension against the starter solenoid. I let the car down and tried to start. I received the same click no start issue for 7-9 times then the car fired up and I took it for quick ride . I parked the car in my drive way and then tried to restart . The car has not started without issue for about 20 starts. I will try again tomorrow and will put the splash shield back on. I am not one to look past luck or whatever, but I am still concerned as clearly the starter is good and working as is the pulse module and the rcm; even the key. Oyy . Any thoughts? Could the new battery have fixed the issue but it took a cycle to clear up low voltage etc? I am one of those guys that needs to know . Ha .. Should I just run her now and see what happens? There was never a visible code so seeks like wiring/ connection. Thoughts?

 

No "cycle" period involved with a new battery.. Plug and Play.. LOL.. I would lean more towards an arced contact "somewhere" that had enough and is now going to play nice.. for a while at least.. LOL. Much like the contacts on my water well pump.. I can open-close the contacts a few times and they play nice a few months or more..

 

Just because the battery ground on the engine looks good, doesn't make it so. You need to remove it, clean it, wire brush it then reinstall. This seems to be more of a common problem with many other brands as well.

James

 

Hi I cleaned up the ground when I changed out the battery . Grounds are good to go to the firewall as well as the started connections.