2000 Echo sounds like a machine gun

[monicat]

Hello! I have a 2000 Echo that sounds like a machine gun when I try to start it. It will not start. The lights on the dash come on and the headlights come on if I turn them on. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

BTW, this is the first time I have ever had any problem at all with this car and I bought it in February of 2000!

[jambo101]

Broken timing chain? Or broken valve bouncing around in the combustion chamber

[Dake]

It could be a bad starter solenoid contactor and the rapid machine-gun-like sound is it banging into but not turning the flywheel to start the engine. There are two small copper tabs inside the solenoid and when the plunger drops down, it completes the circuit which makes it spin to start the car. If one of those copper tabs is worn out, the plunger drops down but doesn't complete the circuit and doesn't actually spin.

If it's a more clicky sound you may just have a low battery that will turn on the electrical stuff but isn't enough to actually start the car. If that's the case though you should be able to get a jump or charge the battery.

Then, just make sure your alternator is charging your battery well, or something may have been left on (even the overhead dome light is enough to drain a battery below starting power over night).

[monicat]

Thanks for the info! I am having it towed to the local dealership tomorrow. It has since my posting, completely stopped making the clicking noise. :-( We tried jumping it to see if it is a battery problem, and it isn't.

[Donny G]

Originally Posted by monicat

Thanks for the info! I am having it towed to the local dealership tomorrow. It has since my posting, completely stopped making the clicking noise. :-( We tried jumping it to see if it is a battery problem, and it isn't.

I'd bet you're hearing the solenoid chatter do to low battery voltage try this turn on the headlights, now turn the key to start are the lights dimming out?

if so your battery is deadeer than a door nail and may not take a jump most batteries are dated if it's more than
4-5 years it's probally toast

ps put a volt meter on there and see what it reads when attempting to start (crank the engine)

[Yaris Hilton]

Yep, it's a dead battery that's just able to make the solenoid chatter.