72MachOne99GT

Car's been requiring a jump recently. Initially I contributed this to cold weather, but as it has been more than once or twice, and the battery is only a year or two old, I was beginning to think it's something else.

Today I went out, and as usual there wasn't enough battery to start the car, or even attempt to turn over.

However, there was a clearly audible click click click click.... coming from somewhere under the steering wheel. (I'd like to point out this isn't the sound you get when your battery is dead and you attempt to start the vehicle)

The sound stayed constant and at the same pace until I attempted to use something electronic, be it sliding my seat backwards (wouldn't go forward, not enough juice I suppose) or put the key into the ignition and turned it to either accessory position.

So I got my camera to record the sound, but upon returning back outside the sound was gone... of course right.....

Now I've killed my share of batteries by leaving lights on, leaving dome light on etc... but I've never experienced this repititious sound before.

Any ideas?

72MachOne99GT

Car ended up not starting at all. After very short charge I had electronic usage, good battery voltage, but no start.

Attempted to crank, but only got 1-2 'urr urrs' each turn of the key.

Electrical problem?
Starter?

72MachOne99GT

I swear....

stevednmc

Does the battery voltage fall as you crank it? If the battery is falling below 10V on cranking I would suspect a bad cell in the battery;however if thats not the case then I would look at the starter and cables...maybe check for voltage drops along the circuit, bad grounds etc.

72MachOne99GT

Voltage seemed to stay pretty constant as I was cranking... Well for angry or two, but after 3ish tries it'd require a few seconds to recharge back to a point of trying to turn over.

You're the second person to say the battery (which is the obvious answer)... I better still have the reciept for it if it ends up being the problem... 16 months life cycle is not acceptable.

cliffyk

Go to my website (click here) and drill down through the menu as shown below to get to the Charging system info:



Those are the factory shop manual documents for testing the generator, battery drain, etc.


Oh, I would first suspect the battery as well--easy to do a load test and find out...

cliffyk

One other thing, when you drive it how many miles to do usually go?

paulo

I would say battery (Most likely) or possibly the alternator or major short in wiring (not likely). The clickikty noise is the solenoid trying to engage without sufficient power. Oh check the terminals, of course, if you have not.

uberstang1

Why don't u just drive it to a FLAPS or sears and they can do a whole charging/starting check on it and u can find out whats wrong and be done.

72MachOne99GT

I was hesitant to suspect the battery as it was only 10 months old.

I however took it to autozone and they swapped out a new one and the car started right up.

I am sort of expecting it to require jumping to start before long as I think something is draining it while not running.

Cliff, I'd been driving anywhere from 5 minutes to 30, so enough time for the alternator to bring some life back to the battery, but it either wasn't holding a charge or was being drained.

We'll see shortly enough.