Won't Start, Just Clicks

This isn't a joke about how many Chevy Volts it takes to start a Grand Prix???

Couldn't resist, sorry.

Clicking could be a bad starter or insufficient battery power to turn the starter.

A jump start will tell you pretty quickly which it is.

However, if you turn on the headlamps and watch the beams as you try to start the car it will give you an indication if there is enough battery power, too.

If the lights go very dim, then it is most likely the battery.

If the lights remain bright, then you have a faulty solenoid on the starter. Sometimes whacking the starter with the butt end of a large screwdriver or a stout piece of wood will temporarily fix a stuck solenoid.

Another common cause of failure to start is a bad ground or positive cable connection between the battery and the ground and/or solenoid.

About 1.4-1.8 volts per year of age of the vehicle.

There must be more to this, and we don't like 20 questions.

How many volts do you need? All of them.

Okay, okay... seriously now, we will need to know:

1) What color is the car?

B) Is the henway fully inflated? Are you sure?

12.5v...

Looks like we need a global recall of all cars with 12V batteries.

How could anyone make such a simple mistake? :-)

Isn't it a man with a flag that starts a Grand Prix?

volts about 12DC, cranking amps is a different thread

It takes about 2-4VDC to make it click.

2 minus 4 VDC?

Turn the key and it makes electricity?... no, wait... polarity shift?... no, that can't be right either...

I can't help it if my answers aren't bullet-proof.

That's too funny! Sure painted a smile on my face.

I think I remember 10 volts as the textbook number. But you don't drive a textbook.

your engine has seized, the amps required to turn the engine over will climb sky high. That big a load will drop the voltage below the magic 10 volt number. Jumping will not help will it? Is your battery ground cable loose? A bus battery wouldn't help if it is.

Start with a charged battery. Then get it load tested. If it passes, get the battery cables checked for clean tight connections. If still good, try jumping with big fat thick jumper cables. If it turns over well now, it becomes time to suspect the starter.

If it starts with a jump it is either the battery, alternator, or the ground cable.

The latter is only true if you place the ground jumper cable to a point on the engine, like you are supposed to, when using jumper cables.