MY frostie will not start !! HELP

[petervibe]

My wife drove it to work, and then drove it for a 1/2 houer. After returning from a floral delivery, she tried to start, it sounded like it starded, and then immediately dead, before it actually started, now it only does rrrrr a very light klick. The battery view hole reads green. I looked in the fuse box near the battery , just an over all look does not show any shorts. Will try and jump in case its a battery. Could it be a starter ? please any ideas would be appreciated, thanks Peter

[Wolfman213]

If it was the starter, you shouldn't hear a click period. From the sound that you are describing, it actually sounds like the battery. Without the car started, turn all your lights on. Determine if they look dimmer than normal. If not, turn the car to acc. and make the same determination again. If everything seems dim or just "dull" then I'd say battery. However, you battery may be fine, but your alternator could be going out, therefore you are just running on pure battery alone. This would explain more as to why the battery is indicating good, but you are have battery related issues. Try and test the load of the alternator. If you are still under warranty and can't get it to start period, I would call the dealership to have them tow it there and find the issue, which is most likely one of the two mentioned above.

[BlueCrush]

Yeah, could be the battery or alternator. Alsos check to make sure the serpentine belt is still there...

[petervibe]

Well with some further checking, i noticed its a Delco , so it must be the original battery, most people do not replace with a Delco. I jumped it , it started almost immediately, then I killed it and it did the same , zippo nothing. Diagnosis: it all points to the BATTERY. 06 Vibe must be the factory bat. 70K miles. I am glad thats all it is. peter

[petervibe]

It could be the alternator, you are right, I will check the battery if it takes a load. Since its showing good in the window. thanks

[03VibeOttawa]

coincidence. my vibe had a dead battery this morning (light button accidentally hit on way out last night). I used my trusty batter jumper/charger (for the first time since given to me as an x-mas gift awhile ago - thankfully i had it charged recently). Hooked it on to the battery, and literally tried to start it 8-10 times. Finally, after doing the exact same thing that kept failing, it worked the engine turned over.Anyone know if what I am describing could happen to a good battery, or should I have someone check it out?

[petervibe]

Just replaced the battery. thanks , Peter

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by Feelin’ The Vibe »coincidence. my vibe had a dead battery this morning (light button accidentally hit on way out last night). I used my trusty batter jumper/charger (for the first time since given to me as an x-mas gift awhile ago - thankfully i had it charged recently). Hooked it on to the battery, and literally tried to start it 8-10 times. Finally, after doing the exact same thing that kept failing, it worked the engine turned over.Anyone know if what I am describing could happen to a good battery, or should I have someone check it out? If you DIDN'T deep cycle the battery, it's very low on charge, if you get it started again, you should go for a nice drive to charge it.. If you deep cycled is, it may never hold a good charge again.. only time will tell for sure.. if it's the original, i'd replace it.. 40-60$ and you should be good to go..

[jake75]

I thought that the alternator was not designed to recharge a deeply discharged battery - should use a plug in charger for this.

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »I thought that the alternator was not designed to recharge a deeply discharged battery - should use a plug in charger for this.It's not, but not everyone has a battery charger lying around... It really shouldn't hurt the alt as long as it's driven at a decent engine RPM for a decent amount of time.. The biggest problem is not getting ENOUGH charge into the battery, people will drive for 10min, thinking the charge is good, it starts the car... but it's not enough and leaves the battery at 1/2 charge, then they rinse and repeat.. putting multiple heavy loads on the alt... Both running the car AND charging the battery.. As you and most may know, the car runs from the alt when the engine is running, only dipping into the battery if the load on the alt is more than it can handle... well, in the case of a dead/failing battery, the alt is running the car AND changing the batt at the same time.. increasing the load..