neighbors's car won't start - need quick info

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

we tried to jump it. didn't work. now, when trying to start it, it gives a clicking sound.

is the battery just dead?

[Inchworm]

1. could be

or try spinning the terminal leads. The battery may not be making connection in there.

Worth a try.

Good luck.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

2. thanks

will try it

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. When you jumped it

Did you hook up the cables and let your car run for about 5 min to charge the neighbor's battery? If you just hook it up and try to start, there may not be enough charge yet.

[radfringe]

4. couple of months ago

same thing happened to my partner out of the blue..

she drove to a store, and when she came out of the store it just made the clicking sound...

happily the store she was at was one that sold car parts etc. one of the clerks came out and jiggled the battery cable - it was loose, he tightened it down and VROOOOMMMMM...

[madinmaryland]

5. It's either a loose battery cable, or you need to keep the jumpers

connected at least ten minutes to get enough of a charge to fire up the car.

[MrScorpio]

6. Possible blown fuse

There may be fuses in the under the hood fuse box. Check them all

Check the interior fuses too

[seemunkee]

7. If the terminals look corroded take the cables off and clean them

Use some baking soda and water to clean them off then scrape the terminal until you see shiny metal.
Replace the cables and try again.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

8. thanks everyone

still not starting. he has some help coming over.

[sam sarrha]

9. 1/could be battery terminals 2/dead battery 3/bad solenoid 4/ low water.. details>>

jumper cables can cause a battery to EXPLODE IF YOU PUT BOTH CABLES ON BOTH TERMINALS, POSITIVE CABLE ON POS TERMINAL, NEGATIVE ON NEARBY GROUNDED METAL.. THEN PUT SOMETHING OVER THE BATTERY TO IMPEDE ANY ACID IF IT DOES EXPLODE.

4/ IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SEALED BATTERY--check the fluid level in the battery, WEAR SAFETY GLASSES OR AT LEAST GLASSES, WATER SHOULD BE TOUCHING THE BOTTOM OF A SLOTTED TUBE ABOUT 1/2 INCH BELOW THE TOP OF THE HOLE, COLD WEATHER WILL REDUCE THE AVAILABLE CHARGE, COLD TEMP CRANKING WILL LOWER THE WATER LEVEL QUICKLY.if you do have a sealed battery you cant put water in it.. if you have a sealed battery leaving it un charged will ruin it quickly..


1, clean terminals, both the bat post and the inside of the cable clamp holes.. wire brush or sand paper or gently scrape with knife till you see shiny metal both pieces.. put some oil or grease if you can on them to prevent corrosion again... old corrosion can be really dark and hard, try not to remove too much metal in the process

2/A BAD BATTERY will kill a good ALTERNATOR eventually.. take it to auto zone etc and they will check Your batt and alt for free.. DONT CHARGE A BATTERY WITH THE ALTERNATOR BY JUST DRIVING IT.!!! WILL EVENTUALLY KILL THE ALTERNATOR IF THE BATTERY IS BAD...
YOU CAN CHARGE THE BATTERY FREE BY ASKING THEM TO TEST YOUR BATTERY, IT HAS TO BE CHARGED TO BE TESTED..

3/ the solenoid pushes the starting gear into the flywheel.. if bat it will make no sound or a little thump.. hit the starter with a hammer or big wrench a couple times.. dont hit something that will break, the big round body.. if it starts replace it

if it chatters it is probably the battery or cables.. corrosion gets up into the cable from the clamp..REPLACE IT.

I WAS IN A SUB ZERO STORM..MY BATTERY WAS VERY LOW ON WATER AND BARELY CLICKED.. I HAD TO GET OUT BEFORE I WAS ICEBOUND IN THE WOODS.. IN DESPERATION I BOILED SOME WATTER AND PUT IT IN THE THE BATTERY, IT WAS REALLY LOW AND THE WARMING OF THE BATTERY UP'D THE CHEMICAL REACTION AND THE TRUCK STARTED.. OR I MAY NOT HAVE MADE IT OUT.

[lildreamer316]

10. What kind of car? and other info:

could be the starter, or actually...I hate to say it...he could have locked up the motor (worst case); but I seriously doubt it.
Probably either starter or maybe alternator, or wiring in between.
Best of luck!

[Deep13]

11. Two possibilities.

The clicking is coming from the solenoid that causes the starter to engage the flywheel. Either there is only enough electricity to trigger the solenoid, but not the starter or else there is enough electricity and your starter is dead.

If it's the battery, make sure the connections are clean and that you allow it to charge for a few minutes before trying it. Unless the batt. is dead, dead, dead it should work. Otherwise it's the starter.

[begood]

12. maybe a new alternator?

49 to 89 bucks at Pep Boys

[Fredda Weinberg]

13. The click is the solenoid, so you have enuf juice for that, but not

turning the engine. I would resort to booster cables and a friend at this point ... hope you know the drill.

[redqueen]

14. Could also be the alternator or the solenoid.

I may have misspelled solenoid.