Alternator or starter?

Question

How do you know which one has to be replaced when the car wont start? Just clicking noises?

Answer 1

Go to Auto Zone and run a starter/alternator test on it. It's free.

Answer 2

A bad starter will make a whirring noise, When the starter does not engage you can hear it keep spinning inside the casing. It sort of sounds like one of those sirens you might hear across the city if a tornado or some disaster were happening. If you are hearing a series of ticking or clicking noises it may be a solenoid . If you can jump the car with cables to start it, its the battery, if it will not stay running for long after you jump it than its the alternator.;

Answer 3

First of all the starter motor and the alternator are different pieces of equipment attatched to different parts of the engine and it is difficult to think what might be done to either to cause them to subsequently fault. I do not however that your car has done over 100 thousand miles and wonder if both starter and alternator are originals. If they are then I would say they have done remarkably well, the alternator in particular. By your description I would suggest that the starter motor remained engaged with the engine after starting and subsequently became heated. If the alternator failed at about the same time then it would account for your lights dimming and the engine finally stopping. It is not unusual for both pieces of equipment to fail at around the same time. I suggest that if you are unhappy with the service you received from the garage who did your servicing then you find another. Indeed the RAC may be able to (unofficially) recommend one for you. I think you would find it very hard to prove negligence on the part of that garage without firm proof but you might mention it to your new garage in case anything untoward is found by them.

Answer 4

if you hear clicking that means your starter slyonoid is working and you are getting juice to it ,, the battery may have enough power but not enough to start ,,, check date on battery ,, if its more than 5 yrs old ( regardless of what month time of battery says,, most dont live any longer that 5 yrs) ,, replace it ,, but first take it and get it checked,, if you can take the alternator off ,, get it checked too, cuz if your alternator is shot and you dont check it and just get a new battery ,,, you will kill the battery in about an hour,, if you can get a jump from someone ,, do it and go to your nearest autozone or murrays,, depending on where you live,, the can check the stuff right on the car

Answer 5

Can you jump start the car? If yes then the battery is no longer charged enough to start the car. Since its just clicking my guess is that the starter is fine.
To check the alternator you need to make sure the battery is not worn out. Have that checked first. Have some one who can do a load test on it to see how its working. If it passes then look at the alternator. Use an ohm meter and see if it is sending enough power to the battery.

Answer 6

Which came first, the chicken or the egg. Typically the clicking sound is due to low battery voltage. As some answers indicated, check the battery and starter cable connections. If you get the vehicle started (by jumping it?), measure the voltage across the battery terminals. It should be about 14 volts DC. If it is about 11 to 12 volts, the alternator is not charging. If it measures 14 volts then the battery is probably bad.

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Alternator or starter?
How do you know which one has to be replaced when the car wont start? Just clicking noises?

Answer 8

B 4 U go replacing ANYTHING - Check the Battery Terminals real CLOSE especially if it's a side mount Battery.Check under the battery bolts if its a side mount.Make sure the Main wires on the Starter are Tight - especially the large battery cable - MAKE sure the Negative Cable is clean & tight on the ENGINE Block.The connections on the battery should B shiny- NOT green or White.THEN have your battery LOAD Tested - then charged or visa-versa-Then put a Voltmeter on the Battery 2 C IF it's Charging!

Answer 9

Starter Starts the car. Altenator is alternative to using power from the battery. With this in mind I would have to say the starter.

Answer 10

Check your battery terminals. This is NOT starter, rather it is starter that is not getting enough current to turn over. Check all your connections, and shine them up with a file or steel wool. Then problem will probably go away. You'll see. Don't forget the solenoid!