Jumpstarted Car, Yet won't start by itself Options

[eyohannie]

I know I know, I used the search function but I couldn't find the answer.

Last night my car wouldn't start; I heard a click when I turned the key, but nothing happened. My friend jumpstarted my car and I managed to drive home. When I came home the car wouldn't start again by itself, so I replaced the battery. I still hear the clicking noise and the car still won't start.

If I was able to jumpstart the car, is the problem with the battery and not the starter?

This post has been edited by eyohannie: Mar 24, 2007 - 4:41 AM

[tonytutino]

i had the same problem for awhile, it turns out the negative terminal or postive one, i dont remember, was really loose. i dont know if thats your problem, but pur some coke on your battery and get all the crap off and tighten back down your terminals, see if that works man

[6gsillyca]

Could be a dying/dead alternator. Sounds like what happened to me

[95CelicaST]

clicking when turning the key is most likely your starter. I had the same problem when I bought my car. It died for good in a mall parking lot and I had to push it out of the parking spot and have my girlfriend dump it in 2nd or 3rd just to get it going.

[applejax]

pleck

This post has been edited by applejax: Mar 24, 2007 - 1:11 PM

[95CelicaST]

A bad starter normally doesn't give you the "clickclickclickclick" when you try and start your car - that's usually a symptom of an electrical problem.

I disagree. That is exactly what mine did and replacing the starter fixed the issue. maybe a constant clickclickclick, but when you turn your key and get one click and then nothing it is wise to look into the starter first.

[eyohannie]

A bad starter normally doesn't give you the "clickclickclickclick" when you try and start your car - that's usually a symptom of an electrical problem.

I disagree. That is exactly what mine did and replacing the starter fixed the issue. maybe a constant clickclickclick, but when you turn your key and get one click and then nothing it is wise to look into the starter first.

Yeah, that's what I thought. But I figure if I am able to jumpstart the car then the starter is not the problem? I'm just a little confused about what the connection between being able to jumpstart and if I have a bad starter.

[applejax]

A bad starter normally doesn't give you the "clickclickclickclick" when you try and start your car - that's usually a symptom of an electrical problem.

I disagree. That is exactly what mine did and replacing the starter fixed the issue. maybe a constant clickclickclick, but when you turn your key and get one click and then nothing it is wise to look into the starter first.

Agreed - I actually edited my post to clarify, but it's not updated to reflect the changes.

[brianforster]

sounds like a ground issue

[eyohannie]

Well, I went to Pepboys and bought a starter ($150/ $30 refund if I bring in my old starter). Car works again but I didn't know starters were so freakin expensive. Autozone has ours for $160 and Kragen/Checkers has it for $140 (they were out of stock). For some reason they don't make generic (cheaper) starters for our cars?

[95CelicaST]

I got mine for 99 installed. Guess I got a good deal. I'm glad to hear it is back on the road. No more starter issues for a very long time (hopefully)

[DeW_H0e_GT]

glad u have your car fixed.....my car had teh same problem but it turned out to be the pos. terminal cable was loose.......but thats another issue....

[eyohannie]

It surprised me how easy it was to remove the old starter and install the new one. I took me less than 30 minutes to do the whole thing.