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My wife drives my car now since i got a company car, she called me last night, it wouldn't start, I had her turn on the brights and they were really dim, i had her get someone to jump her, and the car started and she was able to drive home. I have a yellow top optima battery that's less than 2 years old, so I'm doubting it's the battery although I haven't had it checked yet, will tomorrow though just to make sure. I have added aftermarket battery cables and grounding wire.

My car is a 2001 LX automatic, when my wife turned the key it just clicked she said, it didn't even turn over.

Any advice would be really appreciated as I'm a little strapped for cash and don't feel like getting reamed by a shop just yet. I'm wondering if anyone else with a 2001 or 2002 has had issues with the alternator and maybe if that's a common thing for the age of my car.

Thanks much

 
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clicking sound = dead battery. the battery light will come on if it was the alternator. mine went out after 3 years.

 
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Anyone know of a good place to get a rebuilt alternator for our cars? and by good I mean cheap =)

 
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there are stock alternators (and higher output) on ebay for alot cheaper than usual. i think there is also a thread in the electrical forum that people are starting to put together a group buy.

 
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Yeah I just had to replace my battery after about two years of use as well.......plus if it was the alternator there would be a good chance it would just die in the middle of running after the initial juice from the battery died away......so yeah BATTERY LOL

 
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dont buy one if you dont need one. If the car was jumpstarted and runs fine, but wont restart when you shut it off, just clicks, then its the battery. Now if the car dies while driving, then I would have the alternator checked. Have them both checked at a local autozone.

 
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dude its your battery. i remember my moms 03 avalon (toyota) was doing the same thing like 2 weeks ago.....she wasnt able to start the car so me being the idiot i am, i went over to her work place with a hammer and started to pound on the damn alternator. lol.....wasn't doing **** so i said fawk it....put on the jumper cables and WABAM!

 
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took the battery to Autozone, they tested it, complete garbage, no good. Guess spending like 140 bux or whatever it was on that yellowtop Optima was a BIG A$$ WASTE... I'm never buying an Optima product again.

Thanks for the help

 
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hmm my optima is still going strong for over a year so far. i guess some have problems.

 
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No warrenty?

 
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Doing that method of hitting the altenator is no good. You only do if you have a bad starter then you hit the starter never the altenator.......