New battery less than 3 weeks ago. Power windows, door locks, etc. all functional. Click, click, click, click when I turn the key. Original starter, 114k miles, plenty of city use stop and go driving. Solenoid? Starter? Just replace both? Help!

Orville

 

Does the starter go click click?

It could be your starter solenoid if they battery is good. But your battery could be just run down because the alternator is not doing a good job too?

Does it work if you jump start it with jumper cables? Then it is not your starter solenoid and it is with the battery which could mean the battery is bad and doesn't hold a full charge or the charging system is not doing it job to recharge and i would check the alternator.

Most auto part chain stores check them for free.

Good luck,
Jim

 

If I can't get it started, the only thing I can get to the parts store to check is the battery.

 

My guess is you have a low battery because your alternator is going out.Not putting out what it should be.Car was fine when you put the new battery in it for a day or 2,, I would bet.Then the next day,click, click, click. A simple test for older cars is get a jump start from another car.If car starts up fine(I bet it will with a jump or new battery),, it was not befor because you just had a low battery because of a bad alternator.After you have it running from the jump start.Remove the + battery terminal and see if you car dies.If it dies then it was only running on what little charge you had off your battery from being jumped.If it still runs the alt. may be putting enough out to maintain the car to run but stll not enough to start the car or maintain the battery.
Also on alternators.You can remove it and take it to a parts store and they will bench test it.I bought one off ebay and had this done 2 weeks ago.It tested fine befor I ever put it on the car.I bought a new battery while I was at the parts store.Well 2 days after on the way home from work(wifes car)the car stalled and would not restart.I went and bought a new battery and put it in the car just to get it home.Took the alternator off and had it bench tested AGAIN at the parts store.They said it was fine that I must have a short or bad wires.BS I said.The car is all stock never been messed with! I went home and put the alt. back on the car, drove the car to the parts store with the second new charged battery and then the (alt.) unit was warm/hot from running.I took it off and had them test it hot ,right off the car.Well guess what ,,it was bad!! Even new parts can be junk..
That was a pain in the yang to say the least!!!
I would check out your alternator.Warm from running temp of car,if they say it is good from a cold test.

Good luck!

Ross
Mild2Wild
heminitro

 

If you have a friend or?.Have them bring you and your new battery to the parts store you bought it from.They should be set up with a quick charge that they can put on your battery.It will fully charge a dead battery in about 18 min. Also I would bring in your old alt. for bench testing...

 

Well I jumped it, and it started right up. Starter ok. Drove to the parts store, and Alternator is putting out 14 volts, so it's ok. Battery had a bad cell. New battery under warranty, but I'm going to have to watch it to see if this was a fluke, or if something is draining the battery. Thanks to all who responded.

Orville

 

Had problems with starter untill I found out that its common for these starters to not turrn due to the rotor inside has stopped in a certain position and wants to be let free of the currency and then get a better position wiyh "new" currency to be able to start turning again. Something to do with contact or groundconnection somewhere on the line wich I after many searches have not found the reason to. The first advice I got from my shop, standing on the roadside was to giv the starter a good kick ! As I now have a easy to reach turnof mounted on the negative side of battery, a kind of anti- theaft-device (green wheel), so when this problem occure I just turn the battery of and then right on again and we are on the road again !!
Perhaps someone can give more suggestions to what I can do about it ?
I have already wasted good money in a new starter some time ago so that is not an option !
Hebbe/Peter