so i was getting a slapping and ticking noise from my right valve cover towards the back (cyl 5 or 7) so i try to adjust them using the "spin the pushrod" technique on shoebox's site. i put the #6 piston at TDC and adjusted the according valves, then i did it with the #1 piston at TDC and adjusted the accoring vavles. i tried to start it several times and the starter would click but it wouldnt turn the motor over. i tried to jump start it because i had left the door open for about 30 minutes and my batery isnt in the best conditon, but that didnt help. i cant see the starter being a problem. i felt like a dumb @ss for even tryin to do it myself but im an avid mechanic and am capable of most tasks. i can tow it to a shop and have them look at it but if i have another [cheaper] option, id sure love to save the money.

thanks for the help in advance.

chris n.

 

Sounds like a dead battery.

 

Does it just click or does it make a clicking noise for as long as you turn the key to crank the car? Test the voltage at the battery. You should have over 12 volts. Try checking the voltage at the battery while someone else turns the car over. If you have a dead cell in the battery, you will measure over 12 volts but the second you put a "load" to the battery it will be much lower.
Did you try chasing the grounds down? Did you unplug anything or disconnect any ground wires?
Do the simple stuff before you start dumping money into it.

 

it clicks a few times and stops i think. ill hook up my multimeter tonight or tommorow morning and see what i get.

thanks

 

well, the battery read 12.3 volts without load and around 8 while trying to start. i checked every ground i could find and didnt have any corroded or disconnected. is there any way i messed up bad enough on the adjustment to keep the car from turning over? im going to remove the valve cover and re adjust them. any other possibilities?

 

sou8nds like you need a battery, it shouldn't drop below 10 volts when cranking

 

yup, dead cell. Sorry bro, battery is gone!

 

but would a dead cell in the battery prevent me from jump starting the car? I thought about the starter being a possibility and after searching on the forums a while tried to tap on the starter housing while attempting to crank it. that didnt work. if you guys think it could just be a dead battery ill buy one tommorow.

 

well, gotta hand it to ya. you guys are gooood. lol nah it apparently was the battery. problem solved ::knock on wood::