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My car won't start. Is it the battery, alternator, or something else?

I drive a Nissan Xterra. Yesterday when I started the engine (on 3 occasions) it didn't turn over right away like usual, instead it sounded like it was struggling but it turned over after a second or 2. Today my car won't start at all. The odometer lights and radio come on, but the engine doesn't even attempt to turn, and there's a clicking noise. Something similar happened about a year or 2 ago, I needed a new alternator but that couldn't be the same problem again, could it? Do I just need a new battery or is it something more serious?

5 Answers

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  • 10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    2 years later the battery is just about used up. Have it checked. 2 years ago they cleaned and charged your battery and sold you a new alternator- which is way more expensive than a new battery. The battery was marginal then, but now it is failing. Have the battery checked before you mention the alternator. However, a weak battery can overwork an alternator.Then they both wear out.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Your 2 batteries are drained out and not in a position to hold a cost after coming off of a charger. once you degree the battery voltage in isolation it ought to examine 12volts yet as quickly as any load is put in it the voltage drops to a lots decrease point. It in basic terms needs to drop to ten volts till now it truly is effectively ineffective. The "click" is in basic terms the starter solenoid attempting to work together, yet it can not artwork appropriate because of the fact the voltage is in basic terms too low. The purple mild shows that your alternator/charging device has a fault. it must be a loose force belt, or a fuse blown by way of attempting to cost a clapped out battery, or it must be greater severe. you need to get it checked at a storage with appropriate attempt kit, a small better half and young ones volt meter isn't stable sufficient. once you're working the ignition device would not take lots contemporary and the automobile will run without alternator and a crappy battery. yet as quickly as you turn on something the drain on the battery will become very major. A susceptible battery will quickly fail while under electric powered load, that's what you're experiencing.

  • 10 years ago

    It could be as simple as corrosion where the cables attach to the battery or they could just be loose! If they look corroded remove the cables and apply some baking soda to the cables and battery posts to remove the corrosion and clean before reconnecting.

    They may have installed a rebuilt alternator instead of a new one which could explain it failing so soon. If the alternator was new it's probably your battery. A low battery would have enough power for the lights and radio but not enough to crank the engine.

    It could even be a loose or worn fan belt which would cause the alternator to not charge the battery properly.

  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    at the moment your battery is flat.your alternator may not be chargeing or you r battery is shot.charge battery and have load tested,if battery is ok fit new alternator

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  • 10 years ago

    that's probably your battery, if it doesn't even try to turn over.

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