won't start....just clicks

[Jazbar]

Hi everyone,

I had no problem with my car (97 Grand Prix GTP) the first two times I used it today. Everything was fine accept for the slightest of things.
While in park I noticed the tack drop from 1000 to 500, I gave it alittle gas and all seemed fine. Got home shut it off.....still fine. Couple hours later I tried to start it and it won't turn over.....I just get a repeating click coming from the engine compartment when I turn the key.
The interior lights seem a little dim after trying to start it a few times.
I put the battery on the charger for a couple hours but that didn't help.

Is the clicking normal for a bad battery? Or is my problem more likely the starter?

Thx

[Jazbar]

Just used another charger with an indicator light for "fully charged" and the light kicked on about thirty seconds after I turned it on.
So......I guess its not the battery.
Any input would be appreciated guys.
Thx

[jcas1411]

My best guess is it sounds like the starter cylinoid has went out. This is probably unrelated to the RPM flux. You can take the entire starter out and test it at your local autozone. Pretty easy task to take out.
Hope this helps.

[carnutcass]

I place my vote for bad battery. How old is it?

[vette84]

sounds like bad battery or maybe bad altonator??? if it was starter cylinoid it would be free flying not clicking.

[JJUBECK]

Check your battery connections too, if there crusted and nasty looking you could have a power loss there.

[Jazbar]

Originally Posted by carnutcass

I place my vote for bad battery. How old is it?

Battery is a 2 or three years old. Connections are clean and tight.
If it was the battery wouldn't it turn over slowly at least.....cuz there is at least some charge in the battery.
Altonator was replaced about three years ago.....christ, I hope
that ain't dead again.

So if it was the starter cylinoid it wouldn't be clicking......
so either the alt or the battery?

Thx for your responses guys.

[JJUBECK]

Okay you can check the starter before you take it off, just take a hammer and have someone try to start the car while you LIGHTLY tap on the starter. Ghetto I know but hey its worked for me many times over. Also you might want to check the connections at the starter, if you have a loose wire there the samething will happen.

[vette84]

my sister grand am did the same thing but it was the battery,it gets so dead it dosen't have enogh to turn over so it clicks!!!!! THATS ONE OF THE FIRST THING THEY TOUGHT ME IN AUTO ENGINENARING!!!!

[jon@af]

Most likely it is the battery, as everyone else has said. I see it all the time at work on cars that havent been started in ages(on the used car lot).

[JOEROC]

First i would do a voltage test on the battery, has to be 12 volts or a little over, use an ohms meter set at DC volts.
Second, is your starter clicking or the starter relay clicking ?
if its the relay more then likely its your starter thats bad. there are springs in the starter selinoid that get brittle and break.
Third if you do get it running do a voltage test on the alternator
should be about 13.7 volts or better.
Hope this might help.

[gtgp97]

My vote goes towards the battery also. I have not had a car do this but a jetski and motorcycle click when the battery was low on power. Borrow a battery from another car if you have one and see if this solves the problem.

[94gpse]

You can check the battery first. But I had this problem before, so I checked the battery, cleaned the terminals real good etc... and it still wouldn't start it just clicked. The problem ended up being the starter. So I think it is your starter. Hope this helps.

[JJUBECK]

Yes it sounds exactly like the battery is died, however if your testing the battery and its coming up ok then I would start either checking the starter or maybe a lose connection or a short in the wire somewhere.

[Jazbar]

Thanx everyone for your input. All who guessed the battery were correct. Runs like new now.

Again......thanx for all the help guys!