Car Battery Role & Function
When it comes to your car’s functioning, the car battery is one of the most important components to keep your car running at a safe and high-performance level. The last thing any driver wants is to be left stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery. The battery is the power of your vehicle - without it, you wouldn’t be able to drive anywhere. Preventing the “new battery car won’t start just clicks” condition can help your car have a longer lifespan.
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
The car battery provides electricity to power the electrical components within your vehicle. Without the
battery power from the car’s internal battery, no electrical component will work,
Leaving you without lights, radio, and power windows.
The chemical reaction occurs in the battery system, transforming the chemical energy into electrical
energy to deliver voltage to the starter. In addition, the battery stabilizes the voltage to keep your
engine running consistently and constantly. Without the battery, the car would not have the energy
required to start and maintain the power to run your vehicle.
Finding out these other reasons is crucial to find out why the “new battery car won't start just clicks” situation. Oftentimes, the reason behind the car clicking is due to a faulty alternator or a broken fuse, which we will talk about later. First, let’s see the most common car won’t start symptoms and how you can troubleshoot, diagnose, and cure the “new battery car won't start just clicks” syndrome.
What is an Alternator?
When trying to troubleshoot why your car won't start after a new battery installed, the alternator will often be the culprit if you are positive the battery is in working condition. This can cause the “new battery car won't start just clicks” condition.
The alternator generates electrical power and plays a huge part in the vehicle’s charging system. When the engine is running, the alternator must maintain the correct level of charge in the battery and supply electric power to the vehicle’s systems. The alternator is connected to the engine and controlled by a drive belt, directly connecting to the engine’s functions.
An alternator usually does not require any maintenance. In some cars, it can last for as long as a decade without any repairs or maintenance. However, if the alternator does fail, the car can still run for a limited time on just battery power. Unfortunately, once the alternator stops charging, you will find that the “new battery car won't start just clicks” condition will occur.
Since the alternator is such an important component of your car’s charging system, diagnosing the issue, testing the system, figuring out the most common problems, and determining a plan to fix the alternator is crucial in maintaining a healthy car and charging system. The average alternator replacement cost ranges from about $500-$1,000, with rebuilding an alternator being a lower-priced option.
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Testing Your Alternator Using AVR Test
Your mechanic is able to determine the status of your alternator charging system by using a battery and charging system tester. This battery and charging system test, which is known as an AVR test, can range from about $30-$50 if you get it done at an auto body shop. The test is able to determine if the charging system is not working or working at a limited capacity, meaning the alternator isn’t able to provide enough charge. If the alternator can’t provide enough charge, this can lead to the “new battery car won't start just clicks” condition.
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Testing Your Alternator Using Voltage Test
If a charge system tester isn’t available at your mechanic’s shop, they can do a voltage test. This requires the mechanic to check the battery voltage with the engine off and check again with the engine running. The battery voltage should hypothetically get higher once the engine is started and running since the alternator should give the engine power.
If the battery voltage doesn’t increase, this means that the charging system isn’t working to capacity. Without a working and functioning charging system, this can lead to the “new battery car won't start just clicks” situation.
Signs of a Bad Alternator
As we mentioned before, there are many reasons why your car won’t start and just clicks – one of them is a bad alternator. There are common signs and symptoms to diagnose what part of the alternator is faulty and what is causing the “new battery car won't start just clicks” condition. Troubleshooting these signs can help you determine why your car won’t start after the new battery is installed.
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Dashboard Battery Light
The most common sign and noticeable symptom there is a problem with your car clicking and not starting is a battery-shaped dashboard light. Typically, this warning light comes on when you turn the ignition and turns off when the engine is started, and you are driving your vehicle. If it remains illuminated, there is an issue with your alternator, and the “new battery car won't start just clicks” condition.
The charging system light doesn’t necessarily mean you have a failed alternator, but it does mean there’s an issue with your vehicle’s charging system. However, your mechanic will be able to determine if this has to do with your “new battery car won’t start just clicks” condition.
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Dash Lights and Headlight Brightness Flickering On and Off
Another sign that your alternator is not charging is that the dash lights and headlights will get lower when your car is idling, but become brighter when you rev your engine. This means that you could have a weak alternator or a poor connection at the battery terminals. You could also have a loose drive belt, which is what supplies power to the alternator itself. If the drive belt is loose or not working properly, the alternator will not charge.
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Loud Noises
In other cars, you might hear a noisy alternator bearing and loud noises during use. If your alternator makes a lot of noise, then the belt or pulley is usually the problem. The belt could also be misaligned with the pulley, which means they are not running smoothly and working together. If the noise continues after replacing the belt, then you need to replace the alternator.
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Battery Issues
The battery in your car is crucial in many of the electrical components of your car. This process is ongoing while your car is running. When the battery charge is not replenished and is low, you will experience some issues with starting your vehicle.
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Slow Engine Cranking
When the alternator is damaged and not working correctly, the car’s engine will crank very slowly and even come to a halt sometimes. In order to figure out if this is the problem, you need to check out the ignition system before making a decision, the alternator is at fault. The inability to crank might also be partnered with loud noises coming from under the hood of your vehicle, which is due to a worn-out drive belt.
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Alternator Voltage Leak
The alternator plays a vital role in converting currents from the alternator into a direct current. Over time, the electricity within the alternator can run out, causing dimming lights. We recommend using a voltmeter to ensure there are no leakages and prevent having a “new battery car won't start just clicks” situation in your car.
Fuses and Ignition Switch
The second most common reason you are experiencing the “new battery car won't start just clicks” is due to damaged fuses or ignition switches. If the battery and the alternator are working, the next step you need to do is to check for a damaged fuse or a faulty ignition switch.
Check your car’s manual to find the fuse box to see if the fuse or metal wire is damaged. If the plastic wire is damaged or disconnected, a broken fuse might prevent power from getting to the starter relay, causing the car to not start and just click, even with a new battery.
However, if you determine that the fuse is working correctly and is not damaged, the real issue here is the ignition switch causing the “new battery car won't start just clicks” situation. The ignition switch is the part inside of the electrical switch that turns the car and engine over. Let’s see the most common signs of a damaged ignition switch.
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Ignition Switch is Stuck
The second sign of a failing ignition switch is that the ignition switch might constantly be in the “on” position, which can consistently give power to the fuel pump and the ignition system, which can overload the sensor.
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Accessories Will Not Turn On
In addition, another sign of a failed ignition switch is problems with turning on the accessories in your car. When you insert the key and turn it into the on position, the accessories might not power on.
Conclusion
When figuring out why you are experiencing a “new battery car won’t start just clicks’ situation, it is important to figure out the main causes of this issue and how you can prevent it from getting worse over time!