How do you determine if your starter is bad or if it is your alternator. What should I expect to pay for both?

Question

My car won't start and I think it is the starter because the battery was tested and was ok and there is power in the car, so the alternator is ok. There is some clicking when I try to start it but it does not turn over. Is this something easy to fix? What should be the price range to get it fixed?

Answer 1

Have the battery 'load-tested'...if the starter only makes a clicking sound, its not getting enough juice. Make sure the car is charging properly...13.6 volts. You can have a bad alternator or battery and still have enough juice to run accessories...even headlights, but the starter will just make that clicking sound. Beware...a bad alternator will make a good battery go bad fast...a bad battery will make the alternator go bad...you may need to replace them both at once to avoid replacing one and then the other over and over.
It might be something as simple as a bad battery cable, battery terminal or ground connection. A good battery is around eighty bucks, rebuilt alternator maybe sixty-five bucks. Good battery cable is expensive, but do not buy the lighter weight cables. Check the belts while you are at it. The labor is what really costs.

Answer 2

You didn't say what kind of vehicle it is. Assuming your battery is OK, the next place to check would be the alternator. You can have someone remove it and take it to a garage, or auto zone or some similar place, and they will check it for you for free. If the alternator's OK, it could be the starter and/or starter solenoid, if you have one. Solenoid...stupid cheap, less than $20 for most vehicles, many less than $10 at an auto zone, etc. The way to test to see if it's the solenoid is...first, turn on the car's ignition, then, find the solenoid. The positive cable from the battery will hook up to it on one side, and there will be a terminal on the other side, with a couple smaller wires attached also. Take two (insulated handle) screwdrivers, touch them to the two terminals, and touch the screwdrivers together. If the starter starts turning, then the solenoid is bad. I hope I explained that adequately.

If your vehicle has no solenoid, it could be a bad starter, or a bad cable going to the starter. The key here is to systematically eliminate the possible causes one at a time.

If it looks like too much hassle or you are stumped, I'd go ahead and have the car towed in to a mechanic who has all the necessary testing equipment.

Hope this helped somewhat.

Answer 3

1 if your just getting clicking when you try to start that screams battery. I know you had it tested so try a jump start. If it starts wola more than likely battery. The alternator basically recharges the battery if you have a volts/ battery guage in the car let it run if that stays low and after running a while & the car does not start that points to the alt. But if it cranks well with the jump start the starter should be ok. as to the costs that really depends on what kind of car you drive . Also if you can get it running and to a parts store they can check the charging system and most of the time free.

Answer 4

What kind of car do you have??? If you had the Bat checked and it checked good then the clicking noise is most likly coming from the starter relay. It may be a bad connection @ the starter.
I can't tell you how much it will cost unless we first we know what it is.

Answer 5

if your alternator is bad, then you when you turn the key it won't do anything at all, if it is the starter it'll turn and turn but won't start. if it is Clicking it could just be the battery, try charging it and see if it'll start... you say was tested?

well repairs depend on starter, could be number of things... do you know any intelligent people who could look for you?

Answer 6

TRY A GENTLE TAP ON THE SIDE OF THE STARTER WHILE SOME ONE IS CRANKING IF IT TURNS OVER WHILE DOING THIS YOU WILL KNOW IT IS A BAD STARTER THE CLICKING NOISE IS THE SOUND OF THE STARTER SOLENIOD ENGAUGING AND DISENGAUGING

Answer 7

If it a series of clicks, like a GDLGDLGDLGDL...............check the battery. If it is one single dry CLICK, check the starter

Have your vehicle inspected by a qualified professional

Answer 8

starter or solenoid is bad