Rep Power: 0

my sister's 2000 mirage won't start...
i started this morning but in the afternoon when i tried to start it ...all u hear are clicks.

i tried to jump start it but still just clicking.

it may be that the jumper cables we used suck ***....
but can it be something else? electrics work...but when i started it this morning the radio was asking for a code like the power had gone out or something.

stupid car

 
Rep Power: 380

Clicking = not enough power getting to the starter. some times even jumping it wont help. so the battery is dead... you may need to replace it (depending if the battery went "bad" or not). Get the Alternator checked out too. often a battery dies because the alternator isnt making enough power to run the car.

Sorry bout the bad news.

 
Rep Power: 0

k i thought it would be more than just the battery.
its a 2 y/o battery from walmart. so i'm sure its the battery. i'll prob pull it and load test it.

 
Rep Power: 812

battery

 
Rep Power: 305

try another battery from another car, if you can drive it around a few days to see if it dies. battery may be fine but the alternator might be bad. it would suck to buy a new battery and it still not work right then turn around to buy a new alternator. does it have a charging system light (check the manual)?

EDIT:

Or bring the battery to autozone and have them run a test on it. they can tell you if its good/bad/dead/pefect.

 
Rep Power: 277

I say starting motor. Get underneath there and see if it's seized. Smash it with a hammer a few times if it is.

 
Rep Power: 0

ha yah the battery is from walmart....anyone know the quality of these...its been a lil less than two years.

anyway i go in and bring them the battery cuz it says they will test them.....i carry it in...goto the customer service desk and ask them if they can test it...they call up the "auto" guy...and they keep asking me if i have my receipt.
all i friggin wanted is to have them test it...so after 10 minutes of just pure confusion on their part the "auto" guy goes back to see if he has a battery tester...he comes back 15 minutes later w/ a the battery acid tester...i was none too happy.
apparently they don't have a load tester. so i leave.
i'm gonna goto sears and have them load test the SOB.

i wouldn't be surprised if its the battery...its a cheap walmart everlast battery, its cold, and its not used as regularly as our other vehicles(my sis is overseas). the radio seemed to have reset a while ago so im not really sure why it started. loose connection somewhere?

 
Rep Power: 336

dirty connections

 
Rep Power: 453

just go to autozone, it takes them not but 5 seconds to test the battery. And its free.

 
Rep Power: 0

went to advance auto parts....and they checked it and charged the battery and said it was ok.

so i go back stick it in her car and vroom it starts. so i'm not really sure what it was but i'm guessing:
there was not much juice when i started it that morning and i didn't give it time to warm up either...i went straight to work which is like 4-5 miles from my house. in addition to that that car isn't run consistently, although the last time it was used may have been a week ago. but it has sat for weeks at a time before without anybody starting it.

or

the starter motor just freed itself over time.

on another note i went to Firestone and asked if they test batteries...and they charge 30$!!!

bastards

 
Rep Power: 0

Sounds like on top of your battery the alternator may be bad. Did you have the parts store check your alternator for failure too? I mean your car won't run long without an alternator giving a little juice back to the battery..Lol

 
Rep Power: 0

i know w/ bikes i can basically tell if its charging by checking voltage of the battery at certain rpms...ie. if my battery is getting 13.4v its charging. is this true w/ cars as well? i don't know why it wouldn't be.

i'll check the voltage at idle(i think cars charge at idle).

 
Rep Power: 812

well ya it should be above 12 volts when the car is on. mine is around 14v at idle.

 
Rep Power: 453

all you need is a DMM accross the battery terminals at idle to see if it stays around 13.5-15V. If you can get the car started and it runs forever, but once you turn it off, it wont restart, the battery is bad. if it dies shortly after starting it, the alternator is dead. Go to autozone and have them load test the battery and do an alternator output test.

 
Rep Power: 0

cool thats wut i thought....
battery is fine...i'll check alternator. i was able to start and drive it about a day after i had it charged.

stupid battery tie down is so friggin complicated to put on! bah!

 
Rep Power: 453

well if you were able to drive it around for a day or so, I would look more towards a bad battery. Mine used to slowly discharge and eventually wouldnt start the car. Would jump start it, it would run for several more months, then do the same thing. Autozone ended up testing it and found the battery was bad. Replaced it and everything has been fine.

You really need to have it load tested. If it falls below 9.6V while doing a load test, then you need a new battery.