I noticed that my car was starting "hard" a few days ago then when I went to start it yesterday it would not start. It makes a clicking sound and will NOT start when jumped either. The battery is only 3-4 months old. I have a 99 Ford Windstar. Alternator? Starter? And what is the cost for these things?
2007-12-16 01:39:42 · 17 answers · asked by Matthew S 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
i would have the starter checked its fairly easy to replace probably around one hundred dollars for the starter and fifty or sixty for labor
2007-12-16 01:50:48 · answer #1 · answered by ronnie m 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pretty good chance it's your starter. Your alternator has nothing to do with the starting circuit in your car. It's function is to charge your battery. If your battery is charged, and your starter is good, and your alternator is bad ,your car will start. You can put a volt meter on your battery. It should read just over 12 volts. If it doesn't, charge it and test it again, if it still doesn't read 12+ volts, return it to where you purchased it. They will replace it for you. You can remove your starter and have it tested, I think you'll find that is where your problem is.
2007-12-16 09:55:40 · answer #2 · answered by alk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a mechanic, but it sounds like the alternator to me (I had the same problem). Find a shop that you trust and have your car towed there. Call around to a few different shops (not the one you are going to get it towed to) and ask them how much an alternator replacement might cost. It will help you to get a ballpark figure, based on your part of the country.
Before you do all of this though, make sure the cables on your battery are firmly attached. I had this problem not long ago and my battery cables weren't firmly attached. If that is the case, then your cost will be $0.
I wish you the very best -- having car problems really suck.
2007-12-16 09:44:37 · answer #3 · answered by C 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the alternator would not affect it while trying to jump it .... it just wouldn't be able to charge the battery. IF you could get it started while jumping it, and then it dies when you disconnect the cables, I would say alternator ....
the clicking that you hear is most likely the starter solenoid. It could be that the starter itself is locked up, or it might be a shift position sensor (if the car thinks it's in gear, it will not start.) Try putting it in neutral (while holding the brake obviously) and see if it will start in neutral.
2007-12-16 09:44:45 · answer #4 · answered by un_cool_guy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If seems that you have a battery problem. Check the battery voltage. It should at least have 12 volts.
The clicking sound comes from the starter motor. It is normal if it clicks.
Another possible case the the ECU. Check whether there is any fault code in the ECU via your ECU analyser.
2007-12-16 09:45:34 · answer #5 · answered by Howard Teo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Battery is almost completely dead/ Clicking noise is celenoid trying to kick the starter in but there's not enough "juice". Recharse the battery, check the cables that run to it to be certain they are tight and clean. Then it will start.
2007-12-16 09:45:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A. recharge your battery, and clean your battery posts with a wire brush.
B. clean your wires connecting it to the battery, get some battery terminal cleaner from the auto store.
C. reinstall the battery to the vehicle and attempt to start it. Make sure it has more than 12.5v Once it starts make sure the battery is showing 12.9v-14.0v with the engine running. If the voltage isnt there, the alt is bad.
YOU MUST MAKE SURE THE BATTERY HAS A FULL CHARGE OR YOUR ALT MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY
2007-12-16 09:45:30 · answer #7 · answered by Corey B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, he's right your alternator is dead now. It was letting you know before with the hard start now it's gone. Once it's replace everything should be great, have them to look at your starter as well the wear on it may have hurt it as well....
2007-12-16 09:45:13 · answer #8 · answered by tabitha42101 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the clicking sound is most likely your starter...umm if the battery wont jump then it might be your alternator.... call a car place and tell them what it is doing and maybe they can give you a better idea
2007-12-16 09:43:57 · answer #9 · answered by fordmommywife 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
be sure the batter terminals are tight and rust free.
have both the battery and alternator tested, many auto
parts stores do it free of charge. sometimes new batteries
are defective. being your car is domestic and not foreign
the price of repair will probably not be too bad.
2007-12-16 09:43:34 · answer #10 · answered by Jerry S 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋