edit: don't need help any more, thanks for reading!

So my dad bought a Fit (while I am still fitless) two weeks ago and now he broke it. He washed it today and now it won't start. He said he didn't spray under the hood, and didn't use a powerwasher. When he turns the key the engine won't turn over, but makes a loud, rapid clicking noise (kinda like a machine gun) directly in the centre of the engine bay closer to the ground. He is 500 miles away so its not like I can describe it any better than I can hear over the cell phone. I personally think it's the sound of karma for him not cosigning my loan a year and half ago.

 

It is not from washing.
He needs to charge the battery.

 

thanks for the quick reply. he need to charge the battery even tho there is a door chime and and stuff?

 

yes..........

 

Just called my dad. I guess he is going to ride his bike over to advanced auto parts or something and pick up an emergency battery charger, and try it later tonight or tomorrow. And no, he doesn't really have anyone in the area that would lend him a jump. He thinks that the battery can charge itself if he leaves it alone. Didn't make sense to me, but oh well.

10 char rule ftl

 

haha maybe you should wish him luck too while you're at it..

my dad left his GPS plugged into his new ford focus and since the power port isn't switched to the accessories but rather a constant voltage it drained his car battery. even though the radio worked and the lights and chimes all he got was rapid clicking trying to start the car

maybe your dad was listening to the radio when he was washing it, maybe instead of having the key in the acc position it was in the ON position (which drains the battery faster).

of course we don't know what the problem is without actually being there but that's the most likely solution

 

battery it is then.

 

I left my radio on for my wife when I ran into 7-11 to get a soda. My car was only a few months old and I was back in about 4 minutes, but that was long enough to drain the battery so it wouldn't start. It did the same thing you are describing when you turn the key, turns out it had a bad cell. The dealer replaced it for free.

 

meh, I don't think that he listened to the radio while washing it, he would have mentioned it, I think. I'll let him know about the bad cell problem too.

reps for everyone!

 

That is a common misconception, same as "the headlights work." It takes 300amps to start a car where it only take about 1/2 an amp for the door chime, interior light, etc...

 

My dad charged the battery and everything is fixed. I Told him that next time, he can just send the Fit over to me and I can have a better time figuring it out.

Thanks for the fun fact!