My car just clicks when I try to start it is it my alternator?

Question

I charged the battery, still just clicks, I know I need oil, would that do it? '78 caprice classic

Answer 1

most likely a battery or starter problem, first try to jump start (even tho you have a charged battery it still could be shorted), if it still wont start try tapping on the starter motor with a hammer while someone holds the key in the start position (a flat spot or shorted starter will usually start working in this case) if it starts you should change the starter. worse case is that the engine is locked up and the starter is unable to crank the engine over, if the above wont work try turning the engine over by hand, using a socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt, if you are able to move the engine isn't locked up

Answer 2

OK. Here goes (and from a chick, no less!). Your alternator charges your battery while your car is running. The starter motor, on the other hand, is a small electric motor that cranks your engine when you turn the key. Once the engine is cranked it operates under combustion and will keep running even if your battery is dead. You say you are getting clicking which denotes that your battery does not have enough charge to turn the starter. That could be caused by a) a bad battery (your alternator is working but your battery won't hold the charge) b) a bad alternator (the battery is not being charged while the engine is running) c) a short circuit that is discharging the battery (not likely).

Since you charged your battery and it still is just clicking, I fear the battery is bad and will not hold the charge (have you checked to see if there is enough water in it? Older batteries are not sealed and you have to add distilled water to them) I would start with the battery and work from there. Good Luck!

Answer 3

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It takes approximately 9.5 volts to start a car. If you hear a clicking sound, your battery is not putting out enough voltage. Your radio, headlights, etc., will all work, so you will think that your problem is your starter. NOT SO. Either you have a weak battery which need charging, or the most likely culprit are your battery cables. Most people will look at their cables and if they LOOK clean, and don't see any white corrosion build up on the terminals, they believe the battery terminals are making a good contact. Once again - NOT SO. Those terminals and cables are lead. Lead is a shiny metal. Scrap the top of a battery terminal and it will shine. That darkness on the terminal you scraped off is also present between you battery terminal and cable, and will prevent a good contact. All it needs is to cause a drop in voltage to your starter and you will hear a clicking sound from the starter. Get a good battery terminal and cable cleaner at your auto parts store. The type with the wires inside that will really make those terminals and cables shine. Once you have cleaned them, your battery will put out max voltage. If you still hear the clicking sound, take your battery to an auto parts store and they will check it. It may not be holding a charge or you may have a dead cell. However, DO NOT try and clean your battery terminals with Baking Soda or Coca Cola. I've worked on cars for over 55 years and all that does is clean the OUTSIDE of the terminals - NOT the connection between the cable and terminal. So many people run out and buy a new starter or battery when it is really the connection itself.

Answer 4

It is most likely one of four things, a weak battery, poor connections between the battery and the starter motor, a bad starter solenoid, or a bad starter motor. The first thing to do is to look at your battery terminals, and if they are badly corroded disconnect them and clean both the cable ends and the terminals with a wire brush. Then, if you are at all mechanically inclined, look at the starter motor's electrical connections and see if they are clean and properly tightened. Loose or corroded connections on either end, battery or starter can prevent current from the battery from reaching the starter--no current no start. Then. if it still will not start try an jump start the car. If it starts, then your problem is almost certainly a weak battery. If it does not, then the problem is almost certainly with the starter solenoid or the starter itself. In either case, they are sold as one unit (the solenoid is mounted on the starter when you buy it, although you can replace or repair the solenoid separately) and you can simply buy a replacement and install it yourself or pay someone about one hour's labor to do so.

Now the clicking you hear is the solenoid trying to engage the starter motor, which would suggest to me that it is not the solenoid. The solenoid is, essentially, an electromagnetic switch that thrusts a small shaft forward to engage a little gear on the end of the shaft with a much larger gear on the end of your engine. You turn on the key, and it switches on current from the battery to the solenoid powering the electro-magnet to thrust the shaft out so that its little gear engages the big gear on the engine. When this happens, the starter motor begins to turn which, in turn, begins to crank the engine over until the ignition catches. And, when you hear it catch, you let off the key and the electro-magnet loses power and the little shaft is withdrawn.

The clicking is the sound of the electro-magnet trying to repeatly engage, popping the shaft back and forth a number of times. As it does not take a great deal of current to activate the solenoid, but does require a good bit for the starter to actually turn the engine, it is not uncommon that a weak battery or a bad connect can allow the solenoid to operate while not affording the starter motor itself to turn the engine--which is why you check the battery and the connections first.

Answer 5

Check the oil level, but the starter might need a new solenoid. Try and rotate the engine with a breaker bar and socket on the crankshaft pulley with the plugs removed. if there is too much resistance (or it doesn't turn at all) the engine might be seized. You may need to remove the starter and have it bench tested at an auto parts store to be sure. This would be a good time to have the alternator tested as well.

Answer 6

It is either the battery or the starter solenoid or a bad wire. Check to make sure your positive wire and your ground wire is in good shape. Also check the ground wire on the opposite end from the battery to make sure you still have a good ground.
With Chevrolet`s the Solenoid is on the starter so if that is it you would need to change the starter. Most auto stores will test your starter for you for free. You just need to take it off first and take it in to be tested. I would phone first to make sure the auto store you are going to preforms this service.

Answer 7

Mine was doing the same thing. At first it was dead dead, but a little charge on the battery made things start to happen the clicking noise started. The car would not start at all. Had battery tested at autozone which showed it was bad. Replaced with new one and car started right up. I ve never seen a car not do anything at all before.

Answer 8

Dead battery, try charging it or geting a jump start. If this does not fix it, change the started solenoid. If not, then it's the starter. And why are you trying to drive it with a low oil level and why is the level low? Your just asking for problems.

Answer 9

Have you checked you alternator and starter? Even a charged battery would not start it cause if alternator is not operating its not charging battery so it will drain quickly.

Answer 10

It could be the alternator or it could be the starter. An oil change would have nothing to do with it.