I've got a 1999 Camaro SS, and the damn car won't start. I figure it has to be the battery, the alternator, or the starter, so let me know what you guys think. When I try to start the car, it makes a really rapid and loud clicking noise. I had trouble jumping it, but it finally worked. I initially figured it was the battery because over the last few days while the car was off, the clock on the radio changed by a few hours. Also, when I previously started the car, the battery meter on the dash was low for a few seconds. However, I drove it back around for a while and figured I'd just buy a new battery, but then I turned the car off and then immediately tried to restart it (figuring, if it was the just battery, it would restart after being on for 20 minutes), but again it made the clicking sound and wouldn't start. I hope it's just the battery, but I don't want to buy a new one if it's not. What do you guys think?

 

My first choice would be the battery. Pull the battery out of the car and charge it. If you take it to any auto parts store they can test the battery to see if it is good. If the battery is good, the step would be checking the alternator and ensuring it is outputting enough voltage/current.

 

When the car is running what is your voltage reading on the dash?