The 2016 Malibu won’t start clicking noise giving many Malibu owners a headache. A rapid clicking sound can be heard while driving for several different causes.
Many concerns can be resolved by looking into the noise’s origin and potential fixes.
In this article, we’ll look at possible causes and suggest solutions.
What Does Clicking Noise In Car Mean?
You can distinguish between two different clicking sounds of the 2016 chevy malibu won’t start just clicks. Each one reveals a distinct issue.
The first one has a machine gun-like tempo of rapid-fire clicking. These loose connections have a high current. The links are closed by the magnetically controlled plunger.
They move by opening and shutting, making a clicking noise each time. The contacts close but then open again because insufficient electrical energy keeps them closed.
An additional is a single click. When you turn the key to the crank position, if there is only a single click, the high current contacts inside the starter solenoid are again to blame.
The consequence is that the contacts become corroded and worn out, and they increase in resistance.
The high resistance consumes voltage intended for the starter and reduces current flow to the starter when you start the car, and the contacts close.
2016 Malibu Won’t Start Clicking Noise: The Reasons
Weak Battery
Chevy Malibu won’t start just clicks signifies a dead battery. The clicking is caused by your starter’s attempts to use the battery’s power to turn the engine’s flywheel and pinion gear.
The starter won’t be able to start the engine if it doesn’t have enough power. Wipers and lights consume very little current.
However, the starter motor uses a large amount of energy to start the engine. Even if your Malibu’s electrical components function fine, don’t rule out a weak battery.
Bad Battery Connection
Faulty electrical connections or corrosion on the battery could cause the current flow to be interrupted even though the battery in your Malibu is in fine shape.
When battery acid interacts chemically with the metal terminals, corrosion of batteries is most frequently the result.
It would help if you started by inspecting the battery cables at the terminals. The terminals link the battery to your car’s starter and electrical current.
Faulty Starter Motor
The starter is a tiny motor powered by the healthy battery in your car.
Due to rust on the connection or if a connection has become loose, the power supply to the starter may be cut off.
When you turn the key, a single clicking sound is one of the signs of a bad starter motor.
The starter solenoid, which has a separate circuit and is still powered, is making a clicking noise; however, the starter motor is not receiving any battery power.
You must have a replacement battery installed if the starter is broken.
Faulty Ground Connection
The connection between the battery’s negative terminal and the Malibu’s body is called a ground connection.
Your car’s starter uses strong ground cables, which should be firmly bolted to the engine. 2016 Malibu won’t start if the connection has weakened due to corrosion or melting.
A poor ground wire might impact many different aspects of the ignition system. So, with gasoline, the spark’s quality has the biggest influence. It will be insignificant or weak.
Engine Failure
A seized engine might seldom result in no start and rapid clicking noise.
When you attempt to start the engine in this scenario, it won’t crank, and you’ll hear a single click from the starter solenoid.
Inadequate maintenance, hydro lock, and a lack of lubrication are the three main reasons engines fail.
It frequently happens when a machine stops suddenly, makes a loud knocking noise, and then won’t start. Try lubricating the engine and starting it again as a result.
Low Engine Oil
2017 Malibu won’t start just clicks could be due to poor lubrication between various parts. Hence, ensure that your car’s oil levels are always enough.
Your oil may be not only low but also unclean, preventing it from performing its function effectively.
For optimal lubrication, the moving elements of the engine need an oil that is at least fairly clean. Long-term circulation of contaminated engine oil will damage the engine’s valve filter.
2016 Malibu Won’t Start Clicking Noise: How To Fix?
Test The Battery
You should first visually inspect your battery. Make sure your batter is spotless and devoid of any significant rust.
Using a multimeter to measure the voltage is the simplest way to check the battery issues in a Malibu.
The completely charged battery’s voltage must be measured six to twenty-four hours after charging at the battery posts, not at the clamps.
The battery is no longer very good if the voltage is significantly below 12.25 volts. Do not continue the test if the voltage is below 11V; the battery has failed and needs to be replaced.
Clean The Battery Terminals
Checking your battery terminal connectors is the next step. If these are unclean and clogged, the problem is that your starter and battery cannot connect because of the dirt.
Make sure to clean these connectors thoroughly. The cables would need to be unplugged and replugged using a wrench.
A resolution of baking soda, hot water, or a wire brush will remove corrosion from the Malibu battery.
Yet a battery terminal cleaner brush would work if your car battery has tenacious corrosion. It’s crucial to properly dry the batteries after cleaning.
Check The Starter Motor
You can inspect the starter motor but hold it carefully. Ensure the positive terminal doesn’t come into contact with a metal surface.
The gear should rotate and move toward the end of the starter when someone tries to start it.
When a starter is malfunctioning, it may occasionally have some regions where it won’t start but normally start in other locations. So, it might function until it comes to a terrible stop.
Test the starter wires’ voltage decrease. Reading the battery voltage while cranking with meter leads on positive and negative battery posts is simple.
Then, while the engine is being started, attach your meter leads to the positive and negative posts on the starter and obtain a reading.
You can determine whether or not your wiring is sound up to the starter by reporting the results of the readings. It’s almost certainly a bad starter if the wiring is sound.
Jumpstart The Car
Jump-starting will help you restart your automobile if you think your batteries are too low to start it.
It’s simple to jump-start an automobile, but you should do it cautiously. A spark could start a fire because the car battery is in the engine compartment, which may contain flammable gases.
Hence, you’ll want to avoid sparking as you connect the weak cell to the live battery in the boosters car.
If two individuals are present, one can safely hold the jumper cable ends apart while the other moves between the cars and makes the necessary connections.
Check The Wire
Test your engine cables if none of the previously recommended remedies work.
Three cables are typically attached to most starters: two from the battery and one that connects the ignition switch to the solenoid.
It will help if you do the same tests as you did with your battery one more time.
FAQs
Should An Engine Make A Clicking Noise?
Both rotational and reciprocating parts are found in car engines.
Clunking, clicking or ticking noises are typically produced when one of the reciprocating parts—such as pistons, valves, rods, or pushrods—is malfunctioning.
When you turn the key and hear a single click, the starter relay is almost always not contacting the starter solenoid.
When you turn the key, the battery is likely severely drained if it clicks quickly and continuously.
Is It OK To Drive A Car With Clicking Noise?
No, it isn’t secure. In general, sound should not be produced by cars in good condition.
If your car starts to make a clicking noise, that could indicate a significant issue with the engine or other components.
Whatever the cause, you should stop your automobile immediately if it starts clicking or producing strange noises.
When You Turn On Your Car’s Turn Signals, Why Does A Clicking Sound Occur?
The turn signal relay turns on and off, which causes the turn signal to flash and light up. The electrical relay in newer variants can click or emit a melodic tone.
A cam in the turn signal cluster makes a clicking noise as you turn the steering wheel; for example, when turning left, the rapid clicks each time it passes the turn signal spring arm.
The turn signal is reset and turned off when you spin the steering wheel back to its standard straight position. You can hear a clicking noise, which is it.
Conclusion
Thanks to this article, you identified this issue with the 2016 Malibu won’t start clicking noise. Many different things could cause your car’s clicking noise when you’re driving.
With the help of the quick answers above, you can fix your Malibu without a professional mechanic.