Q: Car won't start - only clicks when key is turned.

asked by on January 23, 2017

After pulling into a parking spot and putting my Kia into park, the engine suddenly died. Now it will not start. When I turn the key, I only hear a single, loud click. All lights and radio work. I had the battery tested at an auto parts store and it was fully charged. I cleaned all corrosion from the battery terminals. About a month before, my heat/a.c. started acting up. Blower would not work 80% of the time. Not sure if that's related. A good Samaritan stopped and turned the engine? by hand. My engine started to crank, then went back to the click. He said he thought it was the started, but he was not a mechanic. Is the starter the most likely culprit here, or could it be something else?

My car has 65000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I adjust the height of the seat belts?
The seat belts in your truck are adjustable. For your comfort, you can move the height of the seat belt up and down. To adjust the height of the seat belts. Pull the center button. Slide the height adjuster up...
Carburetor needs tuning
The fuel accelerator pump is most likely bad and not pumping extra fuel during acceleration. The carburetor needs to be replaced (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/carburetor-replacement) or overhauled if you can find a mechanic with the experience to overhaul carburetors. I recommend having a...
Growling noise in front wheels and steering wheel Mercury Sable
Hello, thanks for writing in. I am happy to help you with the unusual noise issue you are experiencing with your 2003 Mercury. If the noise is NOT occurring during turns when the car is cold, but rather only after...
What does the "check fuel fill inlet" message mean I need to do when my vehicle has a capless Easy-Fuel system?
Hello and thank you for your question. When the check fuel fill inlet message appears on the dash, then there is an evaporative leak that is occurring on or near the fuel filler inlet. Check the fuel filler inlet for...
Headlights, power locks, and speedometer not working
Hey there. The fact that the ABS and 4WD service lights came on means there is a fault code stored that may shed some light on those problems. Commonly when the ABS and 4WD lights come on together, the problem...
ABS/CV axle problems after installing new axles.
Hi there. The hubs to the vehicle are designed with the harness in the middle of them for the ABS sensors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/abs-speed-sensor-replacement). You may have installed the wrong CV axles (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/axle-cv-shaft-assembly-replacement). The replacement CV axles for the vehicle are a...
I replaced my battery now the starter motor makes a clunking sound and starts after a few tries
Hello there, many faults will cause your 2003 Land Rover Range Rover to take multiple tries to start. It is great you have already replaced the battery as this is a very likely cause in most cases. There are many...
P065A - Generator System Performance
Hello, thank you for writing in. To start, the generator is the alternator. It generates the power supply for the vehicle based off the vehicle's engine performance. There are several ways to approach the repair. You may remove the starter...
Transmission problem?
This may indicate a failing speed sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-speed-sensor-replacement). The transmission speed sensor is a magnetic sensor that provides information related to the speed of the input and output shafts in the transmission, allowing the transmission to shift smoothly. The sensor...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid
Kia Kia has really turned over a new leaf with their cars in the past few years, and the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid is certainly no exception. With the same attractive design as the Optima, higher fuel efficiency, and a...
2012 Kia Soul vs. 2012 Nissan Cube: Which One Should I Buy?
While technically these two vehicles fall into the “small wagon” classification, they look like nothing more than boxes on wheels. Some people are really into this design, while others are completely opposed to it. If you’re in the former camp,...
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2010 Kia Rondo: Which One Should I Buy?
There are two different classes of vehicle represented here: the 2WD SUV in the Santa Fe and the mid-size station wagon or crossover SUV in the Kia Rondo. The difference between these two classes may seem slight, but the crossover...