need answer quickly

[firebird1]

uh.... story.

go to start my car today and it makes clicking noises and my gauges are going crazy, engine wont turn over. got a jump start, worked [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]
got home(20 minute drive) and turned it off, went to start it again right away and it was clicking again.

whats wrong?
im thinkin battery is dead, but the light indicator thing on the battery itself is green

[navyblue2000]

battery doesn't have enough juice in it.
the eye don't mean garbage...i've seen quite a few batteries come in with the green eye, but they're bad.

[rockotman]

That indicator only indicates the condition of one cell - there are six in the battery - the indicator is an indication that the battery is charged - ASSUMING that all the cells are healthy. One bad cell, and you are SOL (hey, that rhymes!)

Seriously, if you have a volt meter, go and check the battery voltage - if it is not at least 12.6 volts with the engine off, I would think it is the battery.

If you can get it running, check the voltage again while it is running - this will let you know if the alternator is putting out a charge. Any increase over the value when the engine is not running is a pretty reliable indication that the alternator is ok.

[geisencam]

you said it!