I just bought my first Z - it is a 73 240Z. It drove ok, but now it doesn't start. There is a clicking-type noise from the passenger side floor area when I turn the key. The starter motor doesn't start - but the battery is charged, all the electricals (radio, etc) work fine.

Help!? I'm fairly car-clueless...

Reethi

Dead battery more than likely--even if it says charged--try another battery...or the solenoid/starter is bad--the clicking is from the starter/solenoid.

Sounds like the connections (+ and -) might be dirty and not allowing enough current to spin the starter. It could also be the starter solenoid is failing. The clicking is the solenoid trying to close it's internal relay to provide voltage to the starter. Lift the leads from the battery (to prevent shorts) and then follow them to where they connect to the starter, engine block, etc. Lift these, one at a time, and clean the connection throughly then refit. Connect the battery and try again. Try this before replacing any parts.

Yep, I bet it's a dead battery. Put it on the charger for an hour and see. You might have a drain that draws the battery down if left too long. It may say 12V with a meter, but there may not be any current capacity left in it. My boat does this if I leave it for too long.

If the battery really is charged then it sounds like the starter solenoid is sticking.

Clean your battery cable connections / battery terminals. That's the only thing I can think of other than what has been said.

So I don't mean to sound condescending, but you just bought a 32 year old car and you are car clueless? What was on your mind when you bought the car?

On my '73 there are two spade connectors connected via a bent piece of metal onto the one spade connecter on the starter. When you turn the key this is how the voltage is applied to the starter's relay. Sometimes I would turn the key and nothing would happen. I finally traced it back to these connectors. No amount of bending and cleaning would make this intermittent problem go away. Just this weekend I cut the old connectors off, crimped both wires into a new spade connector, and life is good again.

I'm not saying this is what is the problem with yours (I'd suspect the battery first), but it's pretty easy to check this out none the less.

Good luck!

Like mentioned before clean all the terminals including the starter cable and its ground , make sure the battery is fully charged , if still you get the click jump the starter using a heavy guage piece of wire to see its working and its not the solenoid itself , if the started is goo and tested and the terminals are clean work your way back to the ignition key setup as stated before it can cause all kinds of issues but i think its the starter either not getting enough juice or the starter itself , good luck

I had this same problem and it had the clicking like urs, all mine was is that the batery cables need to be cleaned, down by the started solenoid. After i fixed that it started no problem

Thanks for all the help.

26th-Z - I figure everyone needs to start somewhere. The Z makes me happy.

Reethi

Thanks for all the help.

26th-Z - I figure everyone needs to start somewhere. The Z makes me happy.

Reethi

Love the attitude, dude! Welcome!

G'Day there Reethi, Welcome to theclub.

There's nothing else I can add to the suggestions already made except to just take one thing at a time, starting with the battery leads and the battery posts.

You're right about one thing mate, you have to start somewhere. If you're a Sgt. Shultz and "KNOW NUTHING" about cars, just remember that EVERYONE, (including even the most knowledgable people on this site), at some time in the past, picked up a spanner for the first time.

Good luck to you and let us know how you get on.

Rick.