AHH help me !!! clicking at startup.. wont turn over

[Joey7489]

My sonoma is clicking when I turn the key and then the battery light comes on. I thought it was the battery, so I had it replaced, yet still no luck. I tried charing the battery from a power outlet charger and I was able to keep the truck running, but once I turned it off, it clicked again and wouldnt startup... It will not even turn over, just constant clicking.

Bad alternator?

[rlith]

Alternator is not charging or your starter is shot. (If you just replaced the battery I would go with the starter)

[OffRoadSonoma]

I would atleast check the alternator before he goes out and spend $150 on a new starter. Get your truck started then let it for for a minute. Hook up your volt meter to the alternator, possitive to possitive, negative to ground. It should be putting out atleast 12 volts. If that's putting out atleast that much i would suspect the starter, but make sure you know what's wrong or you'll end up spending big money and not fixing anything.

[rlith]

Originally Posted by OffRoadSonoma

I would atleast check the alternator before he goes out and spend $150 on a new starter. Get your truck started then let it for for a minute. Hook up your volt meter to the alternator, possitive to possitive, negative to ground. It should be putting out atleast 12 volts. If that's putting out atleast that much i would suspect the starter, but make sure you know what's wrong or you'll end up spending big money and not fixing anything.

Umm, that's the problem, he CAN'T start it... How is he supposed to start it to check it? To check the alt and the battery he will need to pull them and bring them into the parts store for testing. But if he's tried jumping it and it still clicks, its the starter.

[D.T.]

Clicking is usually caused by not enough CURRENT getting to the starter. Usually caused by a poor connection to the starter. You should have at LEAST 12VDC at the battery. If not, charge it up. Use DIELECTRIC grease on all connections AFTER you clean them.

My 2 cents...