The charged battery should get you started give the starter a couple taps before starting if its still clicking if the fresh battery doesn t get you started your battery could be bad.
Battery cable corrosion car wont start.
Pour cool water over the battery terminals to remove the fizzing baking soda mixture.
After a minute start scrubbing with your toothbrush wire brush or battery terminal cleaner step 5.
It will fizz and bubble that s ok.
Let the mixture sit for a little.
If you don t have a battery tester you can still see if the battery is good by jump starting the car.
Another symptom of a bad or failing cable is the presence of corrosion on the terminals.
Drive or run your car for about an hour or so turn it off and then restart it.
If the tester shows a weak battery you ll have to replace it.
Don t worry about getting it in the car or on the battery it s safe.
Drive the car normally close to home or with a support vehicle in case it dies again.
If the battery dies again quickly your alternator is bad.
The common signs above should help pinpoint what exactly is going wrong.
If the battery passes the test then it isn t being sufficiently recharged.
That could be caused by corrosion on the battery terminals or a loose or faulty cable.
This is the sound of the starter s solenoid opening or closing or the sound of the starter s bendix drive moving.
Check the battery cable connections.
Corrosion develops as a result of the acidic vapor produced by the battery when it becomes hot from exposure to the heat of engine operation.
Dirt and debris getting into the starter along with loose connections battery corrosion and damaged parts.
In the car talk communities there s a question this week about a 2005 mercedes benz c class that won t start despite the battery being good before you go buying new batteries alternators or starters there s a sequence of diagnosis you should follow to figure out what s going on.
If your car won t start.
It supplies power for your car s electronics when you re underway and makes sure the right amount of charge goes back to the battery.
It could save you hundreds of dollars.
Once the car is running the alternator sends current back to recharge the battery as you drive.
Most auto parts stores will test a battery for free to see if it has enough voltage and cold cranking amps to start the engine.
Over time the vapor can begin to corrode the terminal and cause corrosion to build up.
If you have a battery tester that can measure cranking amps test your battery to see if it s weak.
