Battery & Starting
Clicking, no-starts, dead batteries and how to tell the battery from the starter or alternator.
5 answers
Why won't my car start in cold weather?
Most of the time it's the battery: cold slows the chemistry inside it, so it delivers far less power (AAA says about half its rated capacity at 0°F) just as cold, thick oil makes the engine harder to turn over, and batteries three or more years old are the most likely to give up. If the engine cranks normally but won't fire, the battery is fine and the problem is fuel or ignition, which is a job for a shop or roadside assistance.
How do I jump start a car safely?
Connect red to the dead battery's positive (+), red to the good battery's positive, black to the good battery's negative (-), and the last black clamp to bare, unpainted metal on the dead car away from its battery, not to the dead battery's negative post. Run the good car a few minutes, start the dead one, then remove the clamps in exactly the reverse order and keep the jumped car running for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
- Act now
Why is my battery light on while driving?
A battery light that comes on while the engine is running means the charging system isn't keeping up, most often because of a failing alternator, a loose or broken drive belt, or loose or corroded battery cables. The car is now running on what's left in the battery, so turn off everything you don't need and drive straight to a shop or pull over safely; it can stall without much warning.
- Get it checked soon
Why does my car battery keep dying?
A car battery that keeps dying is usually being drained while the car is off (a light, charger or faulty part), not being recharged enough (short trips or a failing alternator), losing contact through loose or corroded terminals, or simply worn out with age. A voltmeter check with the engine off and then running tells you whether to look at the battery or the charging system.
- Get it checked soon
Why does my car click but won't start?
Rapid clicking when you turn the key or press start usually means the battery is too weak to spin the starter, or a loose or corroded cable is choking the current. A single click with bright dash lights and no cranking points more to the starter or its relay. A jump start tells you which: if the car starts on a jump, it's the battery side; if it still just clicks, it's likely the starter.