One day after leaving my car to sit for 3 days in a parking space i went to turn it on and it would not start. I jumped it and let it run for an hour. I left for 2 hrs and came back and drove the car to class with no problems. When I left school 5 hrs later the car was dead again and I had to get a jump start to drive it home. The next day it would not start again just rapid clicking noises. Is this due to me needing a new battery?? All the lights work and the radio works. I only drive the car about 3 days a week short distances to my college campus.
2007-03-16 05:12:47 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Sounds like the starter is not getting enough electricity. If you have good connections on your battery terminals I would replace the battery, and if that did not fix your problem then I would go and have a good mechanic or garage look over the car. .
The start on your car needs allot of amps to start the car most starts require at least 30 amps to start. When your battery has <30 amps then often it has enough electricity to engage the Bendix but not enough to turn the electric motor ot the starter, this is the rapid clicking noise. Your radio and lights need less amps about 7 to 20 amps it varies. The alternator recharges the battery once the car is running, if this is not working then the car would die after it drained all the electricity out of the battery.
Frequent short trips do not allow the alternator to fully recharge the battery, and will wear out your battery faster, you might want to consider driving the car a little longer and more often.
2007-03-16 05:51:34 · answer #1 · answered by DeSaxe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inside your battery, it is divided into 6 cells. each cell gives out 2 volts. If you put them all together, they churn out a total of 12Volts.
You problem is that one of the cells is dying or has gone weak while the others are still strong. This damaged cell could only hold its charge for just a few hours. Also because its damaged the battery now only gives out less than 12Volts. Most probably around 10V or 11V. Now that is enough juice for low current applications like your lights and radio which eat less than 10Amps. But to crank the engine, you need around 40-50amps which the battery cannot supply.
The clicking noise is your solenoid on your starter trying juice up the starter motor with an electric current. Since there is not enough juice to turn the electric motor the solenoid keeps disconnecting and connecting.
Time for you to get a new battery.
2007-03-16 14:20:57 · answer #2 · answered by Tom C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dead cell in the battery draining the rest.
Take it to Wal-mart or autozone and have them replace the battery and check the charging system. It will be fine.
The battery will hold a charge for a short time but it will discharge if not started. #1 battery failure of an older batter as the battery wears the vibration and all creates deposits on the bottom of the battery when that gets about 1/2" thick it touches the plates and shorts the cell..
2007-03-16 12:19:29 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Red 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drive your car down to Autozone and ask them to check the charge on your battery. Check your battery cables as well. You could have a loose connection. Clean your terminals and post with a wire brush. If it is not the battery (Autozone can answer this and it is a FREE test), and you hear click, clicking noise-possible solenoid or starter problem. Good luck to you!
2007-03-16 13:05:31 · answer #4 · answered by sunset 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have an almost dead battery.
When you turn the key to start the car, the starter sucks a whole bunch of power from the battery. It tries to draw more power than the battery has. Thus the starter solenoid has less power to stay engaged and disconnects.
Then, as soon as the starter stops drawing power, the solenoid has enough power to re-engage, and this cycle happens over, and over, and over, realy fast.
If your battery is over four years old, I'd replace it.
2007-03-16 12:20:40 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have two problems. The clicking is related to the starter/alternator. The battery also needs to be replaced - it's not good for the car to keep jumping it - you're not actually fixing the problem when you do that.
2007-03-16 12:22:04 · answer #6 · answered by ~Biz~ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rapid clicking noises mean that the battery is weak. Just replace the battery and you should be good to go.
2007-03-16 12:55:09 · answer #7 · answered by smoke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know a lot about cars, but it does sound like you need a new battery. I heard the clicking noises when my car needed a new battery.
2007-03-16 12:16:28 · answer #8 · answered by tooqerq 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep... sounds like your battery has died.
Take your car to AutoZone or PepBoys or O'Riely's or some other parts store. They have devices to check your battery which they will do for free. While you are there I'm sure they will be happy to sell you a new one.
I'm 99% sure it's the battery from your description.
Good luck.
2007-03-16 12:17:34 · answer #9 · answered by wrkey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably your battery, get a new one. if that does not work check the starter and the alternator. I had this same problem and it was just the battery....replace it and it should work fine.
2007-03-16 12:17:11 · answer #10 · answered by wherewasgodforthelost 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋