# Car just clicks/wiring smell

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-just-clicks-wiring-smell/168085>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** hyundai, elantra\
**Created:** [July 30, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-just-clicks-wiring-smell/168085 "2020-07-30T21:49:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kitemviv2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kitemviv2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kitemviv2)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-just-clicks-wiring-smell/168085/1 "2020-07-30T21:49:38Z")

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Hey guys, quick question. I went to start my vehicle and it just clicked and didn’t start. I assumed it was a dead battery so tried to jump it. When I did I saw smoke coming from the engine and the smell of burning wires. When I took a look I saw a wire melt and drop down. I’ve never seen this before. Any help would be appreciated

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/e/6ee4226d19cc2df5b8988e425ea04cc841c8065b.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-just-clicks-wiring-smell/168085/2 "2020-07-30T22:44:36Z")

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I don’t see any wire in the picture. Burned wires are bad and caused by a largeer current draw than an unfused wire can handle.

Figure out what the wire comes from and goes to and report back.

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**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-just-clicks-wiring-smell/168085/3 "2020-07-31T00:00:03Z")

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First thing I’d look for is corrosion or bad connections at battery and starter. Then check the entire cable for damage which can short out.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-just-clicks-wiring-smell/168085/4 "2020-07-31T01:48:50Z")

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Reverse polarity? Best method when this occurs remove battery charge w battery charger then reinstall battery. Clicking may be unrelated to battery btw. Faulty starter motor for rxample.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-just-clicks-wiring-smell/168085/5 "2020-07-31T02:29:21Z")

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The melted wire is out of focus, did it fall off of the radiator fan motor?