My truck won't start (again). I want to throw out the symptoms here and see if anyone can help me narrow it down.

1) Turn the key to start and it clicks, kinda fast ---tick tick tick tick while you are holding the key in start position (like the batts are dead)

2) After you let off the key (but it is still on) the Service throttle light flashes for maybe a whole minute.

3) While the Service Throttle light flashes there is a loud clicking under the hood that corresponds with the the light tick-tock, tick tok about every second, like a noisy clock.

4) eventually the noises stop and the light turns off.

5) no SES codes come up when tested.

6) If you try to start it again the whole thing starts over.


What I have thought, done, tried so far:

1) I thought maybe a bad battery connection, positives on the passenger side were very corroded (cleaned them 3 weeks ago??) so I cleaned them up and retightend.

2) I figured dead batteries (1 year old) charged them up with a nice slow charger to full power (alternator is less than year old)

3) got mad, slammed the door, rode my Motorcycle to work in 40 degree weather.....brrr

What should I do next? Does it sound like an electrical problem (ie bad cables or something) or does it sound like a failed part (starter or???) Also what is with the Throttle light and the tik tok sound from under the hood?

I have a battery tester on the way to use after work to ensure they are okay. I am going to order new cables as well because I believe (and may be wrong) that bad cable could result in the corrosion problem I have. However I still wonder about the service throttle light and noise. Is this just a normal side affect of not enough juice making it from the batteries to the vital engine functions maybe?

are you sure the ticking you're hearing isn't the lift pump?

If it is it is not normal, it usually sounds like a pump, this sounds like a really loud clock, almost like someone is tapping on the block with a wrench.

Recorded the sound, but I can't upload a .wav file as an attachment.

Save it as an mpeg, sounds like the starter is going to me. Take a hammer and give the starter a few sweet taps on the starter, not the selonoid, while someone cranks it over (i had to do that dozens of times on the 95 before i bought a new starter). Run a ground from the battery to the starter and then try.

I'll give that a try. Any idea on the clicking and throttle light?

PS: the attachment manager says bmp gif jpe jpeg jpg png txt are the only valid formats, nothing for audio.

Clicking on mine was the starter trying to engage but couldn't because it was jammed. There will also be clicking from the fuel pump on the frame rail below the drivers seat. Not sure about the STS light. Mine got so bad it quit clicking too, i dropped the starter with the wires hanging on and hit it with 12V from a jumper cable (and ground), rust flew everywhere and it worked fine for another year after that.

The clicking on mine does it when you let off the key and just leave it in the run position, and keeps clicking for 30 seconds or so without me even touching the truck. Could it be the lift pump is starved for juice because the starter is sapping the batts as soon as I try to start it? Would the pump click like that if it was not getting enough power?

Not sure, you'd have to put your hand on it while its doing it to see.

My 94 did the exact same thing. Turned out to be the starter. Like CR said, give the starter a few good hits with a hammer. Mine would work after hitting it for a few days but then it was completely dead.

I'm sure I know the answer to this, but are the Starters on E-bay from 100 to 200 dollars just junkers as the too good to be true price would indicate?

Firefighter, did this cause accelerated corrosion build up on your battery posts too, or am I maybe looking at bad cable as well as starter issues?

If your cables are still the originals then its definately time for either a change or modify the side post connectors for top post mounts. Just cut off the ends back to clean wire and put on new top post clamps, i used brass clamps and soldered the wires inside it rather than use the silly type clamp they give with it. My 00 wouldn't crank giving me that clicking noise too, just changed the cable ends and its been 6 months now without a hiccup.

Still have a new NAPA starter sitting in the garage. ($500 without returning the core)

I figured out what the clicking is, or at least where it is. On the back of the intake mainfold to the dirvers side, ( a black plastic housing with a big grey plug and a couple wires with rubber boots) maybe the glow plug controller, makes the same sound when the glow plugs shut off, but just keeps repeating it for 30 seconds. I am wondering if all of these weird little signs are because not enough juice is making it from my batts to the engine. My battery charger swears that the batts are fully charged. Stealer wants 50 bucks and thats with a decent discount for just the on to the starter.