So here's the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUD75ah5ZxM

The night before, I just unscrewed the radio + heater control thing, and left it overnight, supposed to work on it today

It's like 30 degrees outside today. Car stopped starting yesterday night-figured it was just a dead battery. Finished charging today, and tried to turn over the engine.

Instead, I got this loud clicking/slapping noise coming from the engine. Could it be the starter? I don't know.

and btw. I'm new. hello forum.

 

It sounds to me like the battery is toast. It's either that, or the starter, but that seems like dead battery to me...

 

Hmm. Alright, I'll try to look into that. I'll charge the battery for longer now. I'll post back if that doesn't work.

 

dead battery

 

Charging the battery at this point is probably a waste of time. Its really cold out, so the plates are sulfated. Youll need to get a new one if its dead.

Do you have a DVM? Whats the battery voltage when you try to start it?

 

there are 2 issues

1- that's a classic dead battery and charging won't help

2- your stereo is falling out

 

Ah. Time wasted really. Turns out my battery charger is busted. So it's never been charging since i "plugged in". Alternatively, I jump started today and it started up fine with the voltmeter in the dash displaying +13V. Turned it off a few minutes later...and the battery went back to such little charge, the horn wimpered then went silent.

So I guess the real problem here is just a matter of recharging the battery.

Thanks guys, that's one more educated newb in this world.

...was trying to do some work earlier on the temp controls. That explains why it's just 'chillin' out there.

 

I was hoping to hear if you got it running today. As for the battery; why did it die in the first place? If it "just died", I'd still suspect a bad battery. If the volts were reading 12-14 when the car was running, then the alternator is most likely ok.

 

I'm not sure really...
Well since the battery died, I must've left something on overnight, along with the 20+ degree weather
...how I could have missed that is a mystery.

 

I'd like to point out that on a forum, when someone says they tried to charge the battery but "no joy" then the assumption made by those trying to help you, for free, was that your charger was good.

I see that comment as if you proved something to the poster who said charging was a waste of time if you had already tried it.

How are we to know that you were either using the charger incorrectly or it was bad????? How were we to know that you hadn't even tried a jump start?????

sheesh, let no good deed go unpunished

 

lol! Didn't mean to be ungrateful!
I definitely learned something from all this: the tell tale signs of a dead battery.
Another experience to add to the book.
Next time I'll be more detailed with my problems

By the way, from the video, can anyone judge if I have a 305 or 350? I read a comment from somewhere that the side which the alternator is on (driver vs passenger) determines whether its this or that.
Apparently driver's side = 350. . .
Confirm or bust?
-and I'm not sure I want to go by the VIN on the car.. . even though it says I have a 305.

 

False. You can not tell a 305 from a 350 in fully dressed form from physical appearance. The only way you can tell is the casting numbers located on the back of the driver's side of the block just below the head.

 

yup

what he said. They look identical

 

Yep. My best guess is the battery. I know this is a Firebird/Camaro forum, but before I traded my 2000 Blazer for my '91 Firebird Formula, the Blazer died. I tried jump starting it with my buddy's van, nothing happened. Spent the $80 on a battery, popped it in, she fired right up.