That, or go to an auto electric shop and have them check it out. No start, but works with a jump should be fairly easy to diagnose. Bad battery cables or ground, maybe?
It sounds like something is right on the edge of start/no start. I read that the starter can turn, but not enough to start. I read that adding a jumper battery allows a start (is it a strong one, or just barely?). So, while this sounds like the usual symptoms of a bad battery, it still might be:
- a weak starterā¦even if is straight out of the box
2)an excessive load on the starter, due to an engine problem or a dragging clutch. - a battery that is too smallā¦passable but weak.
Because the seems to be an āedgeā problem, I would rule out the immobilizer issue. A system that is intended to keep the car from running is not going to be bypassed by a jump.
Next time it just clicks, take one jumper cable and get a good connection between yor negative battery post and a metal ground on the engine. If that lets it start, you have a ground problem.
Do you have another car you can swap batteries with?
If vehicle can be jump started then it CANāT be the starter. Itās a weak batteryā¦and or a bad alternator or both.
Put a charger on the battery to get fully charged. If it still wonāt after itās charged, then itās the batteryā¦replace it.
ā¦or jump start it to get it running.
One running then at high idle check the voltage. It should be up around 14-15 volts if the alternator is working correctly. If alternator is working goodā¦then drive vehicle for about 30-60 minutes. That should be enough to charge the battery. Turn vehicle off and try to start it. If it fails to start then itās the batteryā¦replace it.
The jump start provides a different battery AND a good ground. You might have a bad, internally corroded ground cable or connector at your battery.
shanonia states that a jump gives a good ground. That would depend on where the jump connections are made. It wonāt improve the ground if the neg is connected at the battery.
1 Like