Rep Power: 0

My friend has a 99 Accord v6, when he went to start it tonight the starter sounded like a machine gun. The engine didn't even turn over at all. My first thought was the starter has gone bad but after a little googling It seems to me that they act that way when the battery is going bad. Is this true? Lights, radio and everything are fine not dim at all. Now when he tries to start it all the instrument lights go crazy flickering. Anything special I should look at?

 
Rep Power: 813

maybe running on 3 cylinders due to a bad spark plug?

 
Rep Power: 0

I'm confused by what you mean gear. The engine isn't even turning over like the starter isn't engaging but its making a clicking noise like a gun(lol).

 
Rep Power: 231

i'd say it very well could be the battery. How old is the battery? The instrument panel will go nuts when there is little to no charge. If he gets it started with a jump or a new battery and it dies again i'd say the alternator is prolly bad but start by figuring out if the battery is good first. If it's older than 4 years it's prolly junk.

 
Rep Power: 813

sorry, reading owns me. its a dead battery causing the starter relay to click due to lack of power.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yep indeed it is, I jumped him tonight and it started right up. Once it was started it ran fine with no battery light on, but when he turned the car off and tried to start it it would not start. So seems to me the battery just isn't holding the charge & since it runs fine ones its started that means that the alternator is good.

 
Rep Power: 231

indeed, new battery it is!

 
Rep Power: 0

Update: When he took it to autozone the battery was only outputting 50 cranking amps haha, I think that accord is rated at 500.