Battery, Alternator, or Starter?

[Wholsea]

Hmm, yesterday leaving the office, car slow cranked, didn't think it was going to start...

Got all the way home, no problems, went to start this morning, got two "whining cranks" then a click click click click...

Checked the oil (don't know why) got back in, and tried again, slow cranked until it started, duno what's wrong... I think it is battery related though...

Any ideas?

[buck]

doesn't sound like the starter.... sounds like there isn't enough juice to turn over the car.

take the battery in for a test (make sure you have your radio code for when you re-install the battery).... if the battery is OK, it may very well be the alternator. You running a big stereo?

[A4-Vblack]

Battery - just ahead and replace it. 48D is the size that you want.

[Wholsea]

Daaaaamn...

Just looked at interstate batteries... $100 for a damn battery.

[voltronb5]

i had a similar problem before, i took the car to autozone to have them test it, and they said that my battery was giving good wattage however my amps was down by ALOT 20amp instead of the normal above 80amps.... ALTERNATOR problem....

saved me buying a battery.


maybe you should go have yours checked... wouldnt hurt.

[awe4rings]

I bet you have a dead cell or two.

[kam1200]

First thing...take off the caps on your battery and check the water level. IF they are low then you need to put some DISTILLED water in the cells and then try to start your car again. Jump start if required. Make sure the water is distilled and not tap water. Batteries aren't exactly maintenance free so check the water levels if you start experiencing starting problems.

Drive a while and if see if the problem comes back. The solution may be that free and easy.

If that doesnt help, then take the battery to autozone or something to have them test the battery first before you start buying a new battery, alternator, or starter.

[Wholsea]

Yeah, battery was toast. At full charge had less than 300 cold crank amps, and would not hold it (continually loosing charge)

Replaced battery, starts right up.

[A4-Vblack]

If the alternater is going bad, wouldn't it show in a your voltage meter on the display? Or at least show low?

[Wholsea]

one would think so. Mine was definately the battery, when the key was in the "on" position, it would register <8 volts...

[JpnA4Quattro]

same thing happend to me and the interstate batt. cost me 110. Which sucked even more was I had my windows down in a parking lot so I couldnt go out and leave my car unless i wanted it jacked.

[SEXICÄN]

i had to get my battery replaced too cause it would click click click click also. I got a 89M battery for $80

[null]

I'm having same issue with my B7.. car lights are all on, stereo can turn on etc. But car wont start makes a sound trying but then nothing happens.. i had it jumped and it started immediately. what to do ? is it possible i have a short somewhere? I was doing some wiring work 2 months ago. Could something like that be related to wiring?

[TConklin821]

I had the same issue. Got a new battery from Napa and voila, problem solved.

[ianwpb]

I had to buy a battery recently for my wife's jeep. I found a great way to save $20. Go on advance autoparts website. Find the battery put it in the cart and select in store pickup. Google advance autoparts coupons. I found a $20 off 100 dollar purchase online only. Put in the coupon code and your payment and go pick up the battery. Being your old one for another $10 off. I ended up paying $86.00!