Saturday, September 10, 2011

Car clicks but won't crank, lights work

Yesterday:

(1) clicks, but won't crank
(2) radio and lamps work (didn't check wipers)
(3) No alternator system bad sign on the dashboard.

I thought (4) the culprit would be the starter (relay, solenoid or both).

However, called GM motor club for jump start. Yeah, jumpstart did the trick. Since I don't carry a voltmeter handy, I took it to O'reilly auto parts to have the battery tested. Yes, the battery is dead. The funny thing is that (5) the battery is just 2 years old, which got 7 years warranty. They prorated and gave me another battery for $40.

Today: the generator sign or the battery sign showed up on the dashboard. Checked the alternator/generator belt, which is working fine. Had the alternator tested; its hosed.

The real culprit: not the battery, but the alternator, which killed the battery in the first place.









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