Just tried to take the car out and it would not start. All it does is click several times. I checked my battery (good) and even replace my negative battery cable because it was slightly cracked but it didnt help. My starter, and engine for that matter, has only 200 miles on it. Bad solenoid maybe? I dont want to take the starter off unless i have to so what else could it be? Thanks

are you sure the battery is up? if so voltage drop in the circuit from switch to starter , bad sol. starter bad i.e. opencircuit in arm. or field . possible locked engine

It sounds like the solenoid to me...would a locked engine make that clicking sound?

Check the voltage at the "S" terminal on the solenoid before you start replacing parts.

if the engine is locked you will hear the sol pull in; clicking sound. ofcourse, there are electrical problems to check that will alsomake that sound. with the key in the start pos check the voltage at the sol on the output term where it connects to the starter. the brass tab that comes out of the starter.

The first time i tried to start it, it didnt make the clicking noises. It just sounded like the battery was low...like it was struggling to turn over. I unhooked the terminals and replaced one then checked the battery, which was fine. When i tried to start it again, i got the clicking. I'll check the voltage tomorrow.

Heck, tap the starter a few times to see if the selonoid is sticking. Sounds like a battery to me though.

the battery is 12.6 volts, i checked it out.

the battery voltage can check ok without a load on it and still be bad. check the battery voltage with the key in the start pos. should be atleast 9.5 volts.

just checked the volts with it in the on position. It was 9.5.

9.5 volts in the ON position is a dead battery. If you check it when engaging the starter anything under 10.2 will cause hard starting, no load voltage should be 13.2 and with the car running 13.8 - 14.2 volts.

What Phillip said! Charge the battery or replace it.
Bill

I recharged the battery at pep boys, tested it, good. 14 volts. It tried to start the first time but was doing the same thing after that. I tested the battery and it was 9 volts again!! It's not keeping a charge., Could the starter drain the battery like that after a couple of turns or is this batter just a bad one?

The starter is not the problem, the battery is no good.

To start, I'm repeating what others have said, but maybe with a few more words...

As others have said, the low voltages with a load indicate a battery or charge problem.

Of course, there may be questions about how measurements are taken. Normally the negative test lead goes to ground.

That leads to the questions of whether the grounds are good.

You said the battery was good a few times. Again as others have mentioned, you can't tell without a load. Just checking the no load voltage is not meaningful unless its low. Even then, it can suggest a charge is needed.

Charged the battery at Pep-Boys for how long? It takes time to charge a battery...

If the voltage from one battery terminal to another with the key on, is low, low charge or bad battery. Same for when the key is in the start position. The start position is when you are manually turning the key to the right. Its basic, but also hard to measure voltage at this time...

If the above are ok, you have bad grounds, big positive cable/connection to the battery, or a problem with the current from the ignition switch to the solenoid.

Notice I didn't say replace any parts. Often people throw new parts at the problem and make it worse...

put the battery from your daily driver in the car and see what happens, pretty much free, just a little labor. One of the troubleshooting steps in the new service manuals is to "test with a known good part". It eliminates a lot of guess work.

Make sure the wires are tightened on the battery...

with the key switch on, the battery is a little over 9 volts. Im taking the battery back and getting a new one. I bought the ac delco battery there a year ago and have a 3 year warranty.