no start/clicking

[Glliw]

I know this has been posted before but I feel my situation to be slightly different.

To start off, my car ran fine about two days ago, the last time I drove it. Now it won't run at all. I went to pull it out of the garage earlier and it wouldn't start. It would make a sort of grinding noise. I pushed it out and jumped it off my bro's camry. after a couple tries it started up. It would not hold a good idle and if i turned on lights such as turn signal and 4ways it would kill the car unless I saved it by revving it. The tach needle would vibrate almost when idling. I turned it off to disconnect the jumper cables and went to start it back up to put it back in the garage and it wouldnt turn over. No noises except like one click. I let it sit for awhile with the key in the ignition and all the little lights that usually turn on at startup turned on. So I tried starting again...no dice. It would make a noise but sounded "sick". After this no lights were working. I let it sit for awhile longer, about 20 mins, while I ranted to my family and friends about how my worlds falling apart. Went to go start it again and all I got as result was an extremely fast clicking sound.

God, please help me diagnose and fix this bullshit! I hate having my car down.

 

[ChicksDigBoost]

Check the voltage at the battery, see if its 12.5. It sounds like your battery is dead.

 

[Glliw]

Will do...I don't have a voltmeter so I'm waiting on my friend who has one to bring it over. will be an hour or so before I can get that reading.

 

[Glliw]

If it is the battery, which would you recommend as replacement?

 

[Wufei]

Optima red/yellow top, whichever is cheaper.

 

[Glliw]

Wow didn't think batteries are 150-180.

 

[steve]

When I looked the last time the typical Diehard or Duralast Gold flooded cell battery were about $80 and the Redtop Optima around $120.

Steve

 

[Glliw]

Where did you get these prices from? Is this redtop actually worth the extra and what makes it so special?

 

[Raynehr]

The red tops fire hard, and carry a little more voltage. where as the yellows are more for endurance and carry a very solid voltage. from personal expierience, the red tops burn out quicker, yellows do last much longer.

 

[Raynehr]

if you can find one for a decent price use a yellow. i could see if you were running a stand alone MSD system to run a red. but if you are on a stock coil, have a stereo and such.. just run the yellow .. you will be fine.. i have never used the duralasts, but have heard good things...

 

[GSntncT]

I have a red top optima myself. Had it for maybe close to two years, and still holding strong.

 

[Raynehr]

I also own a nova drag car. it eats up red tops at the rate of about one every eight months (after going thru 3 i decided to try something else), so i decided to get a yellow top. it has been a year and a half and no problems, however i keep a red top sitting stowed away in the shop because i get a few more rpm out of the car.. arround 300, so when i go to the strip, i stick in the red top. when i am pissin the local boys off .. i cruise the yellow top..

 

[Wufei]

I think AutoZone has the Yellowtop for ~$110 with your old battery.