MARK VIII Starting Failure (Four Clicks)

[Vicinity]

Looking around online, anything close to this sound suggests starter motor. Any other suggestions?

Sorry for filming vertically. Its about 42F in the garage, battery reads 12.04V

 

[LukesCougar]

cracked flex plate or a really bad starter?

 

[SnowyOwl]

If it's the flexplate, I'd guess you could rotate the engine a bit by hand and try again. Not saying it would start, but you'd likely get a different sound at least? Not sure either what kind of havoc could it cause in case it would start, with a cracked flexplate..

My T-Bird typically makes one "clank" or "click" when starting. I assume it's the starter's gear not engaging properly, but only hitting the flexplate. This because if I turn the engine even a little bit, the car starts just fine. (And I have the understanding that my flexplate is just worn out)

 

[theterminator93]

12.04V is pretty low, and the sound of the starter confirms low power at the starter. The bendix is engaging but there isn't enough power to turn the engine over. The high current is causing the voltage to drop so low that it can't keep the bendix engaged, then when the starter disengages the voltage builds slightly to cause it to try again, causing the repeated "click, click, click" sound.

How old is the battery? Can you throw it on a charge for 30 minutes or jump it and try again to see what happens?

 

[Green T]

I would think the starter too. But theterminater93 is also right about the battery and it is the easiest to test. Can you throw the battery in from another car? I guess you could jump it but for me another battery known to be functioning would be easier or at least as much trouble.
I would go:
Battery
Cable as these are known to have connection issues given the age of the cars
Then starter.

 

[Grog6]

The easy way to diagnose it is to measure the voltage, and hit the starter; if the batt is bad, the voltage goes away when you hit the starter. If it doesn't drop at the battery, check it at the starter. A bad cable won't show a drop at the batt, but will at the starter.

 

[Vicinity]

12.04V is pretty low, and the sound of the starter confirms low power at the starter. The bendix is engaging but there isn't enough power to turn the engine over. The high current is causing the voltage to drop so low that it can't keep the bendix engaged, then when the starter disengages the voltage builds slightly to cause it to try again, causing the repeated "click, click, click" sound.

How old is the battery? Can you throw it on a charge for 30 minutes or jump it and try again to see what happens?

Oo that sounds better. It was below 12v this morning, yea theres an issue there. That click feedback was so jarring that I was second guessing. The battery is July 2023 Super Start Premium that came with it. Maybe thats the price of driving conditionally during winter

I would think the starter too. But theterminater93 is also right about the battery and it is the easiest to test. Can you throw the battery in from another car? I guess you could jump it but for me another battery known to be functioning would be easier or at least as much trouble.

I got a trickle charger for the birds 0.1V dead battery, it seemed to have worked repairing that one. Otherwise, yea putting the bird battery would be a good move. Luckily this car bricked next to the trickle charger, so I've been giving it a little juice today. I will unplug it tonight and see what volts will hold over night

Thanks

 

[Grog6]

Sulfated batteries have "High internal resistance" Which means the voltage drops internally when you try to pull current from it.
I just bought a new battery for the red cougar; I'll be pumping gas tomorrow, if I haven't killed the FP.

 

[Vicinity]

I charged the battery and got it going without hesitation on Friday 12.4V. Took it out again today, the volts were a little bit lower but still works when I ask it nicely. Hopefully work picks up and I can grab a new battery instead of monitoring it all the time. Thank you

 

[Grog6]

What's the battery voltage with the engine running? (14.4)
Turn the lights on, still the same? yes 13.8 minimum
When you flip it to high beams, how much does it change? (<1V)
If you're not seeing these, post up what you see.

 

[Vicinity]

What's the battery voltage with the engine running? (14.4)
Turn the lights on, still the same? yes 13.8 minimum
When you flip it to high beams, how much does it change? (<1V)
If you're not seeing these, post up what you see.

12.28V (Off since Sunday)
14.4V What's the battery voltage with the engine running? (14.4)
~14.2V Turn the lights on, still the same? yes 13.8 minimum
14.3V When you flip it to high beams, how much does it change? (<1V)

Seems good =]

 

[Grog6]

That test would say your alternator is fine. measure the batt when you park it, then again in the morning, see if it drops overnight. That is either a light on, or a bad battery.
If it drops a bit overnight, do it again the next night, with a battery cable disconnected. If it drops then, it's the batt.