Thread: Starting Problems.

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hey , i recently had just boughten a 1984 pontiac trans am, i was told the battery was recently charged before i had bought it, it started up evrey time for about 5 days or so.. then i let it sit for 3 days and when i tryed to start it up it gave me that " click-click-click-click-click-click" noise..... i had tryed a couple more times then eventully i never even got the click, ... abousloutly NOTHING happens when i turn the key, did something break? or is this still the effect of a dead battery ?

Originally posted by ajmcmahon
is this still the effect of a dead battery ?

I don't know, is the battery dead?

Here's a starting place for your homework assignment...

http://www.just-battery-links.com/ju...r_battery.html

Dan J

sounds like the battery is dead. could be other problems (corroded cable ends, you left a dome light on, headlites left on, for a few examples).

As to why the battery is dead...try these tests...

charge batt and make sure car starts and runs ok.
disconnect negative battery cable and let teh car sit for 3 days. reconnect battery and start car. if all is ok, then the batt is most likey OK (or you can have advance auto parts test it for free). It may not be holding a charge.

opsion 2, and some folks may yell at me for this...cahrge batt, start car, and while car is running, disconnect neg cable. if car stalls, then teh alternator is bad (or regulator, in the alternator so you change it all at one time).

If you have a volt meter, you can do a bit better...
a charged resting battery should show about 12.7 volts.
start eh car and check it again - it should be 13+ and could be as high as 14.5 volts. Try revving the engine a bit, and you should see the voltage rise (1500 RPM is plenty).

YOu can turn on everything electrical (wipers, defroster blower, hi beams) and the voltage shoud stay at about 12.5 or higher with the car running.

If all that check OK, then you prpbably have a drain on teh battery. There will almost always be some drain (radio memory for one thing). Simplest test is to connect a test light (12v bulb and 2 wires) between nag battery post and neg batt cable (cable is off the battery for this test). If the light lights, then something is drawing power. Now, remove the fuses one by one and check the light after every fuse. IF the light goes out youhave foud the circuit that is drawing power. if more than one circuit, then one will dim the light and one will put it out.

Did you check the terminals to make sure they have not corroded? I recently fought a similar starter problem - turned out that there was a bad cell in the battery. You could charge it and it would start for a couple of days and then go bad. Take out the battery and have the parts store put it on a load tester to see if it is good. My advice on batteries - get an Interstate - stay away from the big national auto parts chains and take note of the date that the battery was manufactured. I had a parts store tell me that a battery that has been in stock for 6 months plus should be avoided. I had a bad experience with Schucks - when the third starter went bad in my street rod in 2 years, they tried to give me another new replacement battery off of the shelf. Before I left the store, I asked them to load test it and it failed - right off of the shelf!!! They did do me right by giving me a new gel battery. Always have them load test a new battery before leaving the store.

the thing is.. i've had the car for about 2 weeks, and i havent even driven it yet... ( im young, dont have the money to pay for th insurance yet ) ... it hasnt moved at all.... i used to start it once and a while, ... i let it sit for about 4 days, and it wouldnt start up.... the first couple times i tryed.... i got the " click click click " noise..for about 4 times.... then i dont get anything now, no click or anything.....

no wires or corroded or anything

my main worry is not getting the click, did something break? or is this still the effect of having a dead battery

If you've been having the car sit without getting the revs up for a consistent period for more than a few revs then you've been draining the battery with the starts and idle cycles. In other words, not recharging the battery. It's likely run down so far that it won't even activate the solenoid a little bit (the clicking noise). Start with a thorough battery charge, make sure the belts aren't slipping on the alternator. Then go from there. Avoid the temptation to start wasting money on guessing and parts replacing.

It takes maybe 10 minutes of driving to recharge a battery after cranking the car to start it. if yoy are running it less than that, you are just slowly draining the battery.

also, if it has carburetor, it will be on the choke until warmed up, that takes maybe 10 minutes too (longer in colder weather). If you never get if off the choke, you will foul the plugs and have a car tht will not start.

lastly, combustion makes byproducts, water is one, and by not running the car to get it hot (20+ minutes) once a week or so to burn that off, you will destroy the oil. Letting the car sit is better!