What you have described is usually a symptom of a corrosion at the battery
terminals creating high resistance in the starting/charging circuit. When
you turn the key there is simply not enough current to keep the solenoid
energized, hence the clicking noise as the solenoid energizes and
de-energizes. Your moving the battery, which enabled the car to start, is a
good clue. Try removing the battery cables, clean the terminals with a
battery terminal brush, slap on some Vaseline and resecure the terminals.
This should fix the problem. although you may have to jump start the car
initially because the battery is probably in a low state of charge, owing to
the aforementioned high resistance. Also. check the connection between the
ground cable and the car body. Once the car is started and you run it
enough to recharge the battery, everything should be OK.
-----Original Message-----
From: David J. Stephenson <daves96@concentric.net>
To: triumphs@autox.team.net <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 9:36 PM
Subject: Funny Noise at Ignition
>
>Something happened today which makes me nervous and upon which perhaps
>someone can shed some light. I started my 74 TR-6 this morning and I
>heard a sort of clicking noise as I turned the key. The engine started
>after a second and the noise disappeared. After driving a while I
>stopped the car and turned-off the engine. Returning a few minutes later
>I turned the key and nothing happened. No ignition light. No noises.
>Nothing. I popped the hood, pushed the battery back slighly, prayed
>softly, and when I turned the key, the engine turned over right away. My
>questions is, is it the battery?, ignition switch?, starter?, solonoid?,
>a combo?, or the dark force of Lucas? BTW, when the car idles at about
>800 rpm the ignition light flickers abit now and then. I've had the car
>15 years and this has never happened before. Any insight would be
>greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave Stephenson
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