Help - Trying to start; click but no crank
 

Trying to start my 8 that's been parked for winter. Started fine a few months ago, but now when I turn the ignition it simply clicks but does not crank/turnover.

The battery seems fine (everything else works) and all the fuses seem fine.

Help?

Dead battery!

^^I'm f**ing hoping...

Just because all else works doesn't mean it's not a dead battery. These are notorious for doing that. Next Winter, buy a trickle charger or at least go start it up and run it once a week for a certain period of time(don't shut it down cold) and don't kill yourself with exhaust fumes while doing it.

Dead battery

Most of my other cars showed a power drain on a dead battery so I was thinking that wasn't it, but I'll get a booster pack tomorrow and try it out. It's been started every few months (not weeks) for about 15 mins and last time (6-8 weeks ago) it was fine. Guess I should do it more often next year.

Anyways thanks to all for the advice; I'll boost it tomorrow and see what happens. From your experience, should a boost/recharge (drive for an hour) be fine or should I change the battery completely?

Tough call.......try it, but expect the worst. You might be okay.

Dead battery. +3

trickle charge it as stated above. don't bother wasting your time and money on that jump pack booster crap. you will regret it. it'll drain/run out of omph in a bout 3 cranks.

throw a volt meter on it and verify +12v

Everyone is so quick to + the dead battery idea. Although it's very possible, I've had the same problem, and it was NOT the battery. Search for some posts with my name in it (sorry, i'm feeling lazy right now), there are a number of possible other causes.

There is a switch on the clutch pedal (if this is a MT) that senses if the clutch is depressed. It can break; mine did. About half the time it wouldnt know the clutch was in and therefore wouldnt let the car start. The dealer fixed it.

There are a couple of other things....if the battery charger doesnt fix it, search here, there are other possibilities.

notice what the OP said.

It *clicks* but not crank.

Yea -- if I dont press the clutch it doesnt click, so I'd doubt that was it. Already searched and the only other cause was a blown fuse which I already checked for. Going to try the battery boost in a few... will follow up!

Yes there are other things it could be.....one of which is the SLIGHT possibility that it could be dirty or corroded terminals as well. But given all that you have said and taking all things into consideration, I still think it's the battery itself. You may have a dead cell and it may or may not hold a charge. Good luck.

How hard is it to check ?

just find someone to jump ur car, if it starts, its a dead battery, if it still doesnt work, its something else.

:)

Except when the car is parked head first in a narrow garage :) It's in a hard spot to boost. (Note to self, next time back it in)

I'm sure its the battery at this point. I "bought" (read: borrowed) a battery charger with start assist and plugged it in -- it cranked once then drained. So I'm letting the battery recharge normally and will try again in a few hours... should be fine.

You might need a new battery...if it was dead and froze....it will be fubarred

yep, 99.9999999999999% ur battery is dead then. I doubt its gonna take any charge.

If u're lucky and it take enough charges to start, well, do urself a favor Run STRAIGHT to the closest auto parts store and get a new battery :)

Buy a good battery with higher than 650 CCA.

I had the exact same problem when I took my car out of storage last week. It was clicking but not cranking/turning over.....

I had to jump it with my other car and after around 5 minutes of charging/trying, it started no problems. After that insident, I had no problems since....

NOTE: This is my second winter I stored the car for about 3 to 4 months...I figured that the battery took a hit this winter and it probably won't last through next winter I less I take certain precautions....If you don't keep the chemical reactions inside the battery active (ie. driving the car...), the battery will freeze and it will be as good as a big concrete block when you try to start your car). Turinng the car on for about 10 or so minutes every month or so seems to be not good enough....
Next winter, I will install a trickle charger... so it mantains the battery voltage level up and prevents it from freezing...