Your 99 Pontiac sunfire gt does not start you had a new alternator and battery installed and the car is making a clicking noise can someone tell you why?

Answer 1

Hi, it sounds like you might have been having starting or charging problems since you

have replaced the alt. and the battery. I think you still have either one or both of those

problems again. Or still.

Did the car ever start after you replaced the alt and the battery? If it did, it would sound like the battery was charged, or charged enough at least, to start the car. Since it won't start now, and you're hearing a clicking, I'm guessing that the battery is not charged. It's not unusual to hear a clicking when the battery is about dead and you try to start the car. SO, either the battery was not fully charged when you bought it, or it's faulty, or the alternator is faulty or miswired and is not charging the battery. Another possibility is that you have corroded battery cables and/or connectors. Or, the other end of those cables, at the starter and wherever the black battery cable goes to ground, might have a loose or dirty connection.

Now, what to do? I'd check the battery first. It's the easiest to get at and to remove. If you have a voltmeter handy, check it's voltage. I imagine that the voltage will be considerably less than the normal 12 volts. If so, it needs to be charged. Since it's new, the place you bought it may charge it for free for you. Or not. Once it's charged, put it back in the car and try to start it. If it starts, good! With the car running, check the battery voltage again. If the alternator is charging it, you should read slightly above 12 volts. Like 13 or 14 volts. If you don't read above 12 volts, the alternator may be bad. But, before you yank it out and take it back to the store, make one more test. Check the voltage right on the battery terminals. Make a note of what it reads. Now, check the voltage on the connectors. The voltage should be the same in both places. If it's higher on the connectors than on the terminals, that indicates a resistive connection. This means that you have to clean up the connectors with a wire brush. That resistive connection can make the difference between the alternator charging the battery properly or not. If the voltage is indeed the same in both places, but is not 13+ volts, the alternator is not charging. Check all your wires and connections. If all looks good, you'll have to get the alternator checked. You can get a brand new one that doesn't work right, especially if it's a refurb.

let us know if you need more help!

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