My GTA has been sitting for a couple weeks.
Had 0 power obviously after I tried to start it, but when I hooked it up to my other bird and tried to jump it, it got all the power (gauges, lights, etc) but wouldn't turn over. The alternator just spun once and then started clicking and turning while all my lights flickered turning the key.
That mean I need a new one? Thanks.

 

Sounds like a bad battery. If it's in real bad shape, it won't let the current from the other car pass to the starter. Measure across the battery terminals with a meter, key off, jumper cables off. should be at least 12VDC. If much less, it's low. If you can get it jumped, check the single wire terminal on the back of the alternator and again across the battery, should be about the same, around 14VDC. if not, then the alternator is probably bad and it could have taken the battery with it. Hope this helps.

Ken

 

I have an interstate battery that's only 2 months old, so it can't be that.

 

You probably have a current drain on the battery even when the key is off. Your battery is being drained and when you try to jump it, it's so dead that it won't jump. Try letting the car that is jumping yours run at 2-3000rpm for about 10min with the cables connected to charge your battery. Then try to start your car. Check for 14V across the battery terminals with the engine running and no accessories on. Once your battery is fully charged, you can check to see if something is draining your battery. With the key off and everything off(dome light, and underhood light off too), disconnect the positive battery terminal and connect an ampmeter between the terminal and the positive cable. If there is more than .5A, then something is draining the battery. To find out what circuit it's on, pull fuses until it goes away. From there, you'll have to figure out what is on that circuit and what the culprit is. Good luck.

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89 Transam GTA, 350TPI, auto, 3.27 rear, dual cats, gray.
Magnaflow cat-back,
K&N open element,
Best E.T. 14.63@95mph

 

Definately check the voltage on the battery before anything else. Anything less than 11 volts and you get click-a-click-a-click-a...

Even if it is a new battery, it could still be bad, or maybe someone ruined something replacing it?

 

Connections.

When its clicking real fast its usually one of two things, a bad connection or a dead battery.

Jumpimg it will not always work in these conditions.

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R
and 2 POS commuters...

R.I.P. #3
"He can see air"

[This message has been edited by Engineboy (edited November 07, 2001).]