Engine doesn't start, only clicks...

420nitro · 07-11-2004, 02:45 PM

Exactley. The radio requires about 12 volts and 1 amp or so to operate. The starter needs about 150-200+ amps to crank the motor over. When they test a battery, they will genarally put a load on the battery. "Load test" The battery can hold 12+ volts with no load and still be bad. Then when you put a load on it,...it needs to still hold approx 10.3+ volts with the load on. Genererally they put a load of 1/2 of what the battery is rated at. Examle:
500 cca would require a 250 amp draw "load" to test correctley. Now you can put a load on the battery of lets say 80% or more of its rated status and fail any battery. So what ever battery you have make sure they don't load the battery with no more then half the c.c.as it's rated at.

Another cheap test you can do at home is :....

1) Turn the head lights on.
2) Crank the engine over or try to.

Have someone look at the headlights and see if they dim or gou out completely. They should only dim ever so sightly if the battery is fine. If the lights go out...then your battery needs to be replaced if not charged over night to see if it would hold a charge. Odds are the previous owner knew about this ans simply didn't care. So just replace it.
Good Luck

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07-11-2004, 02:45 PM	#4
420nitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rockford Posts: 596	Exactley. The radio requires about 12 volts and 1 amp or so to operate. The starter needs about 150-200+ amps to crank the motor over. When they test a battery, they will genarally put a load on the battery. "Load test" The battery can hold 12+ volts with no load and still be bad. Then when you put a load on it,...it needs to still hold approx 10.3+ volts with the load on. Genererally they put a load of 1/2 of what the battery is rated at. Examle: 500 cca would require a 250 amp draw "load" to test correctley. Now you can put a load on the battery of lets say 80% or more of its rated status and fail any battery. So what ever battery you have make sure they don't load the battery with no more then half the c.c.as it's rated at. Another cheap test you can do at home is :.... 1) Turn the head lights on. 2) Crank the engine over or try to. Have someone look at the headlights and see if they dim or gou out completely. They should only dim ever so sightly if the battery is fine. If the lights go out...then your battery needs to be replaced if not charged over night to see if it would hold a charge. Odds are the previous owner knew about this ans simply didn't care. So just replace it. Good Luck