So today I had a car come in (2005 honda element, automatic, realtime awd) and it was running when it arrived the customer shut it off when I went to start it there was nothing, no click, no turn over, nothing I went thru all fuses they all looked good, i tried to jump it with a jump box and still got nothing, I had one employee turn key and I smacked starter and it started, (without jump or jumpbox) so assumption was starter... I replaced starter (found an easy way to do it without taking intake off) and when i was done it started, shut it off 3 times it started back up every time, ran it thru the car wash they shut it off at end of wash in order to wipe interior down without messing anything up, anyhow went to start it 20 minutes after the last start and nothing but a click, all it does is click when u turn the key?? not a click, click, click like it keeps trying just a single click coming from starter... could it be my new starter is bad?? Battery? But battery is only 1 year old.. what i dont get is why it started multiple times then on fourth or fifth start after it had been running for a bit it wont start again?? I'm literally lost...

 

Try using a known good battery to see if the problem persist.

If it starts easily with the good battery, check for excessive parasitic draw.

 

Was going to try that in morning but did order another starter just in case. Hopefully the battery does it because that starter is a B!! Ill keep ya posted... just mysterious as hell that it cranked fine 3 or 4 times after I changed starter then when it shut off for 10 minutes while they were drying the car off it wouldnt start again... talked to another mechanic that said maybe and most likely it is a bad power connection? cause it seemed like there wasn't enough power getting to starter to engage teeth out to catch flywheel, but I checked most all connections and there's no corrosion and all grounds seem good with no wires cracked or broken anywhere, I asked if he thought it was battery he told me to stop just changing parts and fix it lol, says anyone can just change parts it takes a smart person to actually fix something the first time and not by process of elimination...

 

Testing with a known good battery is not necessarily the same as replacing the part. Many shops have other good used battery lying around that are used for various purposes.

If there is excessive parasitic draw when the car is turned off, the battery may get discharged enough to cause difficulty starting the car (for example; after 20 minutes, it wouldn't start again in your scenario).

 

Check the grounds.