When I turn the key starter rapidly clicks

[flournoyg48]

When I turn the key the starter rapidly clicks. Engine bay did have water in it recently. Don’t think it’s lack of battery because I’ve already used a jumper box.

 

[flashback]

The clicking is a relay the question is why. Usually it's low battery. How much water in the bilge?

 

[Fun Times]

Have the battery fully tested.

 

[flournoyg48]

The clicking is a relay the question is why. Usually it's low battery. How much water in the bilge?

Enough water to get in the engine. The engine isn’t locked up, I just can’t get the starter to engage. I’ve replaced the relay but I just get a rapid click

 

[dubs283]

If the battery is more than three years old it would be suspect, especially if it died from a constant auto float bilge pump running.

If the starter was at or below the surface of the water it surely needs replaced

 

[flournoyg48]

If the battery is more than three years old it would be suspect, especially if it died from a constant auto float bilge pump running.

If the starter was at or below the surface of the water it surely needs replaced

The starter has been replaced. And is it still a battery issue if I’ve used a jumper box and got the same result

 

[dubs283]

And is it still a battery issue if I’ve used a jumper box and got the same result

Use a known good battery and test again

Inspect/clean all connections related to the starting system as well

 

[flashback]

Yes a bad battery will suck down a jumper box..

 

[flournoyg48]

Is there any other things that could cause the relay to rapidly click or just the battery

 

[Fun Times]

Is there any other things that could cause the relay to rapidly click or just the battery

Dubs in post 7 covers all the usual suspects of the clicking sounds when trying to start...

Usually it's a battery with not enough cold cranking amps even if it shows 12 volts on the gauge and a jumper included everything else being perfect.

That or internally corroded battery cables could cause this as well.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your battery is either toast, or you have bad connections.

Changing parts without testing is just burning money

 

[flournoyg48]

I let the battery charge some and also put the jumper box on it and got it to engage. I guess I’ll look into getting a battery now.

 

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

Is there any other things that could cause the relay to rapidly click or just the battery

People keep mentioning the battery and "bad connections".

Regarding "bad connections", I've found that the main ground wire that's bolted to the flywheel housing in the back is oftentimes corroded. Remember, your ground is just as important as the positive. A quick trick is to take jumper cables and use ONE SIDE of them to connect the negative terminal of the battery to a GOOD clean ground on the engine block. If you hear ANY improvement when turning it over, then you know that at the very least the ground side of your circuit needs attention.

I've also found that the starter itself can be corroded where it meets the engine block. Water will drip down from a manifold or water will slosh around in the bilge and cause that mating surface to become corroded. So even better than finding a random place to ground on the engine, put the jumper cable directly on the starter housing. Then try to turn it over.