Clicking Noise?

[Papa Rick]

My truck 2003 W900L KW, C-15 Cat had started to make a clicking sound sometimes when I go to crank it. I turn the switch off and turn it back on and it fires right up?

Checked, cleaned and load tested batteries, and all connections, starter, and alternator and all check out fine.

Called KW Place and explained it to them, and they told me good chance my soleniod on the starter was going bad.

I asked them if that was hard to change and he told me that it use to be very easy, but now with the newer engines it was almost as easy to just change the starter out.

Looking for advice and suggestions. He did tell me that my KW has a smaller soleniod in the battery box and it could be that but did not know how to go about checking that, with the exception of when it clicked next time to put a test light on the starter soleniod (not sure about this one) and see if it was getting fire or not, and if not then it was in the battery box.

Advice and suggestions needed here. Thanks

[Rev.Vassago]

A clicking noise is almost always the solenoid. We used to hit them with a rubber mallet when the would do that, and sometimes they would grab. I'm not sure about the newer ones though.

[bob h]

My truck 2003 W900L KW, C-15 Cat had started to make a clicking sound sometimes when I go to crank it. I turn the switch off and turn it back on and it fires right up?

Checked, cleaned and load tested batteries, and all connections, starter, and alternator and all check out fine.

Called KW Place and explained it to them, and they told me good chance my soleniod on the starter was going bad.

I asked them if that was hard to change and he told me that it use to be very easy, but now with the newer engines it was almost as easy to just change the starter out.

Looking for advice and suggestions. He did tell me that my KW has a smaller soleniod in the battery box and it could be that but did not know how to go about checking that, with the exception of when it clicked next time to put a test light on the starter soleniod (not sure about this one) and see if it was getting fire or not, and if not then it was in the battery box.

Advice and suggestions needed here. Thanks

The battery box solenoid switch; place your test light on the large output terminal and your ground clamp on ground, test light should not glow unless the key is in the CRANK position.

If you attempt to crank the engine, and it just clicks... 1. the test light glows = solenoid is good, or 2. test light doesn't glow = solenoid is bad... of course, this is the basics; it can get more complicated than this. But, if the test light glows, you're probably looking at a starter

[Papa Rick]

The battery box solenoid switch; place your test light on the large output terminal and your ground clamp on ground, test light should not glow unless the key is in the CRANK position.

If you attempt to crank the engine, and it just clicks... 1. the test light glows = solenoid is good, or 2. test light doesn't glow = solenoid is bad... of course, this is the basics; it can get more complicated than this. But, if the test light glows, you're probably looking at a starter

Bob, are you talking about the test light on the battery box solenoid or on the starter?

It does not do this every time or every other time, so could I waith untilit does this and then put the test light to it leaving the switch on when it makes a clicking sound?

Did they tell me right if it is the starter solenoid it is easier to just buy the whole starter?

They have my starter on sale this month for $240.00, plus exhange.

Remember when giving me advice on how to test, my knowledge is very limited on doing this.

Thanks

[Jumbo]

A clicking noise is almost always the solenoid. We used to hit them with a rubber mallet when the would do that, and sometimes they would grab. I'm not sure about the newer ones though.

Why a rubber mallet? Real men use a big hammer or cheater bar.

[pdm]

The small solenoid in the battery box is probably about 20$, so you may want to think about just replacing it. Delco changed the way the solenoid on the starter is fastened a few years back & it requires the starter to come off to replace it. Used to be able to switch them pretty easy beofre that .

[Papa Rick]

Checked the Battery Box and found 2 solenoid terminals inside the battery box. They are both corroded over real bad. Will clean them up real good tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks for the advice, and will let you know if this stops it.

[NotSteve]

I was told if you lick the terminals then drink Coke it cleans them up real good. Not sure I remember the exact sequence so you may want to Google it.

[Orangetxguy]

My truck 2003 W900L KW, C-15 Cat had started to make a clicking sound sometimes when I go to crank it. I turn the switch off and turn it back on and it fires right up?

Checked, cleaned and load tested batteries, and all connections, starter, and alternator and all check out fine.

Called KW Place and explained it to them, and they told me good chance my soleniod on the starter was going bad.

I asked them if that was hard to change and he told me that it use to be very easy, but now with the newer engines it was almost as easy to just change the starter out.

Looking for advice and suggestions. He did tell me that my KW has a smaller soleniod in the battery box and it could be that but did not know how to go about checking that, with the exception of when it clicked next time to put a test light on the starter soleniod (not sure about this one) and see if it was getting fire or not, and if not then it was in the battery box.

Advice and suggestions needed here. Thanks

Rick, I have a C-15 in my truck. The starter solenoid went out back in february. Cat in Atalanta did the repair work for me...the solenoid and starter were one piece. The rebuild cost me $587.00.

[Papa Rick]

Cleaned the soleniod swith and relay switch inside the battery box, both were corroded real bad. Will post in the next few days if this clears it up, as I believe it will.

[Rev.Vassago]

Why a rubber mallet? Real men use a big hammer or cheater bar.

I was pulling a grain wagon, and all I had was a rubber mallet and a sledge hammer. And I couldn't fit the sledge hammer in there.

[Mack2]

Why a rubber mallet? Real men use a big hammer or cheater bar.

I was pulling a grain wagon, and all I had was a rubber mallet and a sledge hammer. And I couldn't fit the sledge hammer in there.

You could have fit the sledge hammer just would have had to relocate a few things.

[Papa Rick]

After cleaning them up, it stilled clicked 3 times this week, and once it seemed as if it would not keep turning over after it started turning over to crank.

Then I was at the KW Place this past week I talked to them and they told me sometimes it was hard to pinpoint the problem unless you start replacing parts (Which can be expensive), they were not trying to sell me parts, but told me that sometimes it is the soleniod in the starter and can be replaced (new one is 60 plus change, or the soleniod in the batter box, it is also 60 plus change.

They told me that I could even change the starter for 230, but it could not be the starter either.

I have checked and cleaned all known (That I know of) cables and places, but am looking at advice on this?

[Rev.Vassago]

Suck it up and start changing the solenoids.

[bob h]

After cleaning them up, it stilled clicked 3 times this week, and once it seemed as if it would not keep turning over after it started turning over to crank.

Then I was at the KW Place this past week I talked to them and they told me sometimes it was hard to pinpoint the problem unless you start replacing parts (Which can be expensive), they were not trying to sell me parts, but told me that sometimes it is the soleniod in the starter and can be replaced (new one is 60 plus change, or the soleniod in the batter box, it is also 60 plus change.

They told me that I could even change the starter for 230, but it could not be the starter either.

I have checked and cleaned all known (That I know of) cables and places, but am looking at advice on this?

Typically when the contact disc inside the starter solenoid is worn out... the rest of the starter (drive end bushings, overrunning clutch, etc) are not far behind. If you can change the solenoid yourself - great, if not i would just change out the tired starter.

To correct a comment made above... the typical H/D starting system uses 2 contact solenoids; one mounted on the starter motor body for engagement carrying the load of the starter current. The second is known as the firewall switch, used to control (or switch) the starter solenoid... the key switch controls this solenoid.

You are hearing a clicking outside the cab, so this makes me think the key switch is fine. To narrow down beyond that, you would have to use the method i told you in my previous post. The starter solenoid, the firewall switch, the starter motor, or any of the wiring between (least likely) could be bad.

If the problem cannot be reproduced in the shop, the tech has nothing to measure, and he is "chasing a ghost" until it fails for him in the shop.