# 2013 Chevy Sonic - Dying battery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, sonic\ **Created:** [August 14, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-chevy-sonic-dying-battery/106899 "2017-08-14T16:32:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mattsypek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@mattsypek](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mattsypek)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-chevy-sonic-dying-battery/106899/1 "2017-08-14T16:32:51Z")
Hi Car Talk Community! So, starting about a week ago I began to experience my car starting sluggishly at originally what seemed random starts. I figured out after a while that it was after shorter trips, say 10-15 minutes or less that it would happen. Longer than that and it starts fine. Drove to work two nights ago (35 minutes), and while I was on my break I was sitting in my car with the door open. When I left that night, car wouldn’t start. Got rapid clicking when I turned the key. Hooked up to a co-workers car with jumper cables couldn’t get it to start; just clicking. So I called roadside assistance and the guy put the battery pack on it and it started up right away. Next morning, took it to the auto parts store for a test (about a 30 minute drive). Guy at the store put the multimeter on it and said my battery was perfectly fine. Haven’t had a no-start since, but it’s still sluggish after short trips. I’ve had some friends tell me it’s my starter, but I still am convinced it’s something with the battery. Thanks in advance! -M ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-chevy-sonic-dying-battery/106899/2 "2017-08-14T16:58:20Z")
> [@mattsypek](#): > > but I still am convinced it’s something with the battery If you have the original battery why not put a new one in, some last a long time but at 4 years it may not have that much time left. Also has the alternator been checked. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-chevy-sonic-dying-battery/106899/3 "2017-08-14T18:58:59Z")
If the battery check did not include a load check, it’s probably the battery. Some batteries age by losing capacity, especially if they’ve been short-tripped a lot over their life and the factory alternator is not very high output. I gotta agree with @VOLVO_V70 here. Might just be best to install a new battery and see how things go. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-chevy-sonic-dying-battery/106899/4 "2017-08-14T20:21:19Z")
[quote=“mattsypek, post:1, topic:106899”] First. Make sure the battery terminals are clean and very tight. If the “sluggishness” (whatever that means) continues, I too suggest that you have the alternator and battery tested under load, i.e starting and running the engine . It should show you whether the battery is dying or the alternator not charging properly. Then replace whatever is needed. If you have a multimeter watch some youtube videos and DIY, it’s not rocket science.