car wont start...machine gun sound

[CuseTownGti]

So with all this creepy warm weather in january i thought i'd start her up and take a trip around the block. she has only been sitting for about a month and when i went to start her she wouldn't start and i got a fast repeating click-click-click-click sound, is this starter solenoid (sp?) err. something like that? headlights come one, as does everything else but the dash/cluster lights appear to be dim and when trying to start the car, the numbers on my clock would do circles with just the dash (-) lines, kinda like if have you digital cable and what your box does when its searching for the connection or updating. Anyways i have a brand new optima red top thats not even a year old and just replaced the ignition switch about 3months ago....didn't try to jump it yet, but will try to tomorrow,....oh also tried the whole disconnect the battery, wait 15mins, turn key to start postion, wait 5mins, tried to start the car then and still nothing....so any ideas? lets hear em :embarrassed:

[OnelowcabriO]

id try jump starting it first, could be a dead battery

[VWTUNING]

your battery is dead dude, jump it should be good to go.


i have a jump box if you need to borrow it.

[CuseTownGti]

if my battery is dead, i just lost my faith in optima's

[VWTUNING]

maybe something was draining it? light on? stereo wiring? Just a thought dude.

[customfabvw]

dead battery!

[evolveVW]

any battery will drain if left connected. When you go to let it sit again, disconnect the battery or get one of those Battery Tenders. My Optima does the same thing.. probably a drain in the system somewhere

[CuseTownGti]

so it didn't work the first time i tried, and i waited a solid 10mins for it to charge and it didn't start......thought about it and it defintely prolly was a dead batt. so i used the girls car instead of my winter car and it worked. the terminals on my olds were pretty shotty.....well damn...i feel so.......stupid, only needed a jump. one too many drunken bull rides i guess
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/CuseTownGTi/DSC00595.jpg

[evolveVW]

That'll do it. :wink:

[Shiftn4Dubs]

Also FYI for the future, Corroded or loose Battery cables also give you this problem. I always just take a jack knife or a sharp tool and scrape the Battery Posts and Terminals till they are shiney again. :smile: Or you can use the Steel Bristle Brush Tool.

[lite1979]

Amen above me. Also go out right now and get yourself a tube of dielectric silicone grease. Whenever you have to mess with something electric, throw a little grease on there and don't worry about it for another five years.

I did this to everything on my 84 Volvo 240 DL stationwagon, and the thing turns over everytime, though it hasn't seen pavement since 2003 and needs a gas line...

[Master_Shake]

i always have to clean my terminals off. but optima's are supposedly "sealed" so you shouldn't get too much build up on the terminals. and optima's don't last forever. :wink:

[1point8turbo]

:mad: My optima died on me a few times, Ask Matt he knows