Q: Hard to start. Makes click noise once running amp gauge is nuts bouncing around. Good battery, good alternator built in volt reg

asked by on June 22, 2017

It's hard to start. Makes the "click" noise as if the battery is dead. Battery tested 100%. Replaced alternator only to discover it was good. Has built in voltage regulator. Once the truck is cranked as the amp gauge goes bonkers. Bouncing and moving from one extreme to the other. I turned on the headlights and it immediately shut down as if I'd turned the key to off. The interior light is dim as if the battery is low and the "ding" noise when the door is open fades but the battery is good. It turns over half a turn and then clicks. It did start while being jumped but as I said immediately turned off when head lights turned on. Thanks for any suggestions!

My car has 125000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do you adjust the rearview mirror?
Your rearview mirror might not be the most high-tech piece of equipment, but it’s an essential consideration for safety while on the road. Using your rearview mirror helps keep you and your passengers safe, and it also protects other drivers...
Car not reversing, but going into forward.
Hello, the transmission your car is equipped with has a dedicated band that locks up to one of the drums to make the trans rotate in reverse. This band is only applied in reverse and manual low (putting the shifter...
Gearbox stuck in park
Hello! There are a few things that can cause the gearbox to remain in park (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/parking-brake-won-t-release-inspection). The most common is the brake switch - modern cars require the brake to be pressed in order to change gears. If the brake...
Engine dies after Battery Light came on
My diagnosis would depend on whether the Battery Light illuminated before the engine died, or if the engine died before the Battery Light illuminated. If the Battery Light illuminated before the engine died, then you most likely have an issue...
The car surges when accelerating in first gear only.
You may have a problem with the mass air flow sensor causing the engine to run too lean and will cause a hesitation or surge when accelerating from a stop. You may have to have the computer system checked to...
Car stutters in gear and stopped, the check engine light is on
Hello. I would need to know what you replaced to try and diagnose this issue. If you replaced the spark plug and the ignition coil then you may have an internal engine problem. Most of the time this is caused...
The car has trouble cranking unless i push the key in hard and wiggle it.
If you are having no issues turning the key in the ignition lock, the lock assembly should be okay and the actuator pin that links the lock cylinder to the switch may be the problem. Pushing the key in hard...
Wheel hop/ wobble
Hello. There are several components that may be causing these symptoms. The easiest to check is the condition of the tires. If they are cracked, warped, low, misaligned then you will possibly have these symptoms. More likely it is related...
Cars light and everything turns on but won't start and no nose
Be sure not to remove the battery cables if and once the vehicle is running. Removal of the battery from the circuit at that time can cause a voltage excursion which will damage the PCM (powertrain control module or "vehicle...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re an Interior Designer
As As an interior designer, you need to transport a great many different items, including fabric, paint and wallpaper samples and sometimes even furniture items. You probably don’t handle overly large loads very often, and when you have to, you’ll...
The Best Used Cars to Buy For a Graduation Gift
Your Your little bundle of joy has grown up and on the cusp of entering adulthood. Graduating is a milestone, and you want to reward their hard work and show how proud you are. Buying a used car is a...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Alabama in 2012
2012 2012 was a great year in Alabama for auto manufacturing, but that wasn’t the only bright spot. Vehicle sales in Alabama were also robust in 2012. Nothing much changed in terms of the vehicle types that were most popular...