Firstly, hi all. Glad to be here.

I have a 98 SS that I've had for the past 3 years, and it's been very reliable. During the winter months, I park it and start it about once a week. Today, I went outside to take it around the block, and the throttle seemed to stick. It rose from 1500 to 3000 with a feather's touch on the pedal, so I instictively shut it off and inspected the throttle linkage, sprayed it with WD40, and tried to start it back up. Now, all I get it a rapid clicking noise from the passenger side and no turn over what so ever. I thought I may have flooded it, but it seems a bit too strange for that.

I do believe I hear my fuel pump working, as I have half a tank, and my battery has full power. It kinda sounds like the starter is making the clicking noise. I'm really stumped on this one, so any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

well, your starter is on the passenger side, rear of the block, pretty much between the bell housing and the block. It sounds like the noise could be coming from your starter, but then again...I have always had problems deducing starter issues.

Fry

 

Rapid clicking noise and no start sounds like the battery to me. When my diehard bit the dust I had voltage, but not enough CCA to turn the car over. I'd have the battery load tested for free somewhere.

 

It sounds like your battery is weak, just because you have voltage does not mean that you have sufficiant amperage.Picture it this way...water in a pipe is the voltage, the rate at which it is flowing or pressure is your amperage.Try charging your battery over-night and do a amperage drop test or simply see how it does in the car.If you still hear that clicking sound I would almost guaranty you your battery needs to be replaced.Hope this helps.

 

Check your battery connections, might have corrosion. If that looks ok, take it to Autozone and they will test/charge it for free.

 

Thanks guys. It was indeed the battery, even though my gauges told me differently. I still had the strange problem of it idling at 2000-2200 RPMs, and a very literal a sluggish throttle response that disappeared once the car was restarted. Once it was restarted, the thing ran like a champ.

I'll probably have to replace the battery, though. It's still better than having to junk the starter or fuel pump. Cleaning the throttle cables probably wouldn't hurt, neither.

Thanks for the info!