key on startup going to earth? can anyone help

wrightk

We have a kia sedona 2002, fantastic car and we love it, never had any problems until now.

just lately i have noticed when i turn the key it just makes a clicking noise, like its going to earth. i know the battery is ok as its new, if i keep turning the key and wiggling it, it just starts as normal?

any ideas?

Notmyrealname

Starter motor solenoid or starter motor.

forgotmyname

Battery flat? Or starter motor failing?

Auto or manual?

wrightk

its an auto, just before this happened i noticed the car not wanting to start. someone mentioned to me the crankshaft sensor?

s_b

it might be the safety micra switch in the gear select mechanism worn
see if it helps by putting ignition on and moving gears then putting back in park and trying again
if it doesn't move youve found the culprit

colino

If it's a new battery are you confident that the connections are solid?

marlot

wrightk wrote: »

just lately i have noticed when i turn the key it just makes a clicking noise, like its going to earth. i know the battery is ok as its new, if i keep turning the key and wiggling it, it just starts as normal?

any ideas?

Loud clicking noise under the bonnet --> Battery, starter motor or one of the connections between them. Possibly either the connection between the battery lead and the car body, or the car body and the engine - take them off, clean them up with sandpaer and reconnect.

if i keep turning the key and wiggling it --> could be worn out ignition barrel electrics. Would not expect a loud clicking noise, though a quieter one is possible (relays energising)

As someoen else said, could be the starter inhibition switch on the gear box. --> Try moving the gear stick through the gears a few times and starting it in 'N' instead of 'P'

forgotmyname

Is the alternator charging the battery though?

Just because its a new battery doesnt mean it wont go flat.

wrightk

thanks for all the replies. i tried the changing of gears and it did work, although i dont know whether this was just by luck or anything else as it is an intermittant problem and only seems to happen sometimes (can be for a period of a whole day and then not happen for weeks)

wrightk

marlot wrote: »

Loud clicking noise under the bonnet --> Battery, starter motor or one of the connections between them. Possibly either the connection between the battery lead and the car body, or the car body and the engine - take them off, clean them up with sandpaer and reconnect.

if i keep turning the key and wiggling it --> could be worn out ignition barrel electrics. Would not expect a loud clicking noise, though a quieter one is possible (relays energising)

As someoen else said, could be the starter inhibition switch on the gear box. --> Try moving the gear stick through the gears a few times and starting it in 'N' instead of 'P'

thanks for the reply. i can hear a clicking noise coming from both the rear and the front of the car when i am attempting to start. in the rear it oddly sounds like its coming from the seats behind me