I really NEED help, question about my car!

So I don’t know much about cars, not much at all. I need help diagnosing a problem. First off, my car is really old, 95 Chevy Lumina. Anyway, went out to use use it, and it wont turn over, just clicks, tap tap tap tap tap tap, when i turn the key in the ignition. Everything else works, so obviously its not the battery. I have no clue what it could be. I would prefer to try to fix it myself, if its an easy fix, maybe find a video online. No way can I afford a technician at a local shop. So can anyone help?

Clean up and tighten your battery connections. Your starter pulls a lot of juice. It’s entirely possible for everything else to work except the starter because of the amps required to spin it over.

Totally agree with Ralph. You could have enough voltage to run the accessories without having the ameperage available to start the car.

1. Check connections.

2. If you have a battery charger, try charging the battery for a while, then start.

3. If no battery charger, do you have somebody who could try a jump start.

When was the last time you put in a new battery?

Grouse

could be solenoid or starter. Have a buddy try to turn over while you hit the starter with a hammer. If you know how to jump a solenoid try that after.

I agree with Ralph.

Quote:

---

Totally agree with Ralph. You could have enough voltage to run the accessories without having the ameperage available to start the car.

1. Check connections.

2. If you have a battery charger, try charging the battery for a while, then start.

3. If no battery charger, do you have somebody who could try a jump start.

When was the last time you put in a new battery?

Grouse

---

I have know idea, I bought the car used, and they didnt give me any receipts or anything. Its a 95 chevy lumina, and the battery is buried under the washer fluid reservoir… man this sucks!

Quote:

---

could be solenoid or starter. Have a buddy try to turn over while you hit the starter with a hammer. If you know how to jump a solenoid try that after.

---

Ooo, I remember how fun it was to jump the solenoid when I was younger. Like the 4th of July every day.

I also agree with all of the above, 90% of GM electrical issues are from their side post battery connections. When you clean the connections be sure and peel the rubber back and clean under the ends on the cables, I use an air grinder with sand paper on it but a file or sand paper will do. just need to make sure everything is clean and tight.

Try cleaning the terminals and getting a jump start. That might isolate if it’s the battery of give us a hint or what else it might be.

How long have you had the car? Assuming they didn’t put a new battery in the day before they sold it to you, then anything getting close to 5 years means you’re on borrowed time with the battery anyway.

Grouse

I’d say definitely a weak battery,
get a jump start and take it to a Batteries Plus, they can test it, and put in a new battery if that’s the issue.
good luck
Jack

Must be it then… I need a new battery. I got to wait for the girlfriend to get off work, not even sure if she has jumper cables or not. So I’m SOL! I got the car 2 yrs ago, so I am assuming they didn’t put a new battery in…

New Battery –

Napa and most other auto parts stores will test your battery for free. They’ll test alternators and starters, too, which are the other two possibilities you’re dealing with. Those parts are usually pretty easy to pull, have tested, and replace on your own if necessary. Use google.

I wouldn’t recommend pulling an alternator for a clicking noise when trying to start

More than likely it is the battery or a coroded terminal connection. Jump start and go to a parts store, Battery Plus. or an independent auto repair shop. Most places will test battery for free.

Another vote for battery problem.
Can stop in at a valvoline too… All the service centers are equipped with testers. They also sell interstate batteries, no other battery compares in my book.

You have a PM if you still need help with your car.

so it was the battery, jumped it and ran it for a while. turned it off then tried again, and it wasnt so strong. So I will be going early first thing tomorrow to fleet farm or walmart to get a new one and free installation. i dont have all the tools to take a battery out of a lumina, it is just buried in there. anyway, what would be a good choice for a battery, brand wise? my battery i saw is a 75N, if that helps for anything, since i really dont know much about cars.

All Walmart, by my home, had to offer for a car battery, was an EverStart Maxx battery…

And buy the largest amperage battery that will fit on the battery tray, when it comes to amperage the more the better. If that eventually runs down then its the alternator, then buy a cheap set of tools to change it.

Quote:

---

EverStart Maxx battery…

---

IMO, great battery for the money. I’ve got one in my car and would have one in my truck if they made one that fit.

Make sure they test the alternator before wasting your money on a battery!

We were having a discussion in the background about the alternator… a good indication of a faulty alternator is, “while driving” your headlamps/dash begin to dim, blower slows down, radio cuts out… this is because your draining your battery running the car and the alternator is not charging it. Also after driving, trying to re-start soon after shutting off, the battery is dead… again alternator. With a good battery, after shutting it off and it sitting awhile (overnight for example) your battery will recover and start it right up. Just some stuff to think about when diagnosing.

No doubt, that is some good info particularly from some NON_union guys…

My point is it takes 4 seconds to check with a volt meter if your alternator is charging between 13.2 and 15 …. and if it’s not charging or more importantly over charging and cooking your battery, which happens, you have the culprit.

Don’t bother me… I am on my break…

So from what it looks like, it may be the alternator. The blinker light would die out and radio would do the same after a while, resulting in a lost/ non charge of the battery. The car was running on all it had stored in the battery, or seems so… Keep in mind I have absolutely 0 knowledge in cars. So I am going off what everyone has said. The car died going to Walmart today, had to get my girlfriend to pull my car in a parking lot to get a quick charge/jump. Then again, it died right as I was going to turn onto my street. Never got to Walmart as they said they don’t do alternators. I called a car care service here in Woodbury and said it would cost me $415 to change the alternator. I CAN’T, IN NO WAY, AFFORD THAT! They were busting my balls! Haha. So it is in my garage sitting. Does anyone know anyone who may want to check and/or change possibly my car’s battery or alternator, for a fair price. I can not afford 415$ for what some of you say is an easy fix… By the way I own a 95 Chevrolet Lumina V6 3.1L.
And again, can’t express my self enough, THANK YOU ALL, for your concern and advice!

Hate to say this, but if you have a really bad battery, it can still be just the battery. Just sayin’

Could be… But I have no way getting to get it checked out, or even getting the battery out since I don’t have the proper tools to get the battery mount off, the battery is just buried in my Chevy Lumina. Anybody in Woodbury or close to who wouldn’t mind testing my car, if they have a battery or alternator voltage check?

And maybe help me get this resolved soon?

Hopefully you know how to receive a PM! “blinking envelope”

PM coming!