before i went on vacation i disconnected the negative wire from the battery so the batter wont die and today when i came back, i put it back on. All the lights are working but when i turn the key there is a clicking noise, and it wont start. Any suggestions to what it might be? Or what i should do?

 

How fast is the clicking? If it isn't rapid, I'd put money that your battery still went bad (or at least lost some of it's power). Try jumpstarting it or swapping the battery for one you know is good (and fits).

 

Yup - sounds like the battery quit on you. It might be time for a fresh battery (if your current one is 4 yrs old or more, I would just replace it).

 

i think it'd be safer to just change the battery. I remember I had jumped my car and it shut off in the middle of the highway on the way to the autozone i was going to get the battery.

 

battery is about a 1 and a half years old, im gonna try to jump start it, its a really quick clicking noise that i have never heard before.

 

nope jump starting didnt work

 

Could it be the starter?
Have you ever replaced the starter? try tapping it a few times.

 

starter went bad.

 

I dont know if it was ever replaced cause ive had the car for 2 years but that could be the problem. How should i approach this problem? Do i need to get it towed, is there a write up how to change it or even a picture of what it looks like?

 

if not the battery, the starter. I recently replaced my battery and im saving up for a starter because i know that'll crap out soon. battery's easier to swap than starter. and if it wasnt the battery u can always return it

 

start savin dude. starters have really cleaned me out in the past.

 

is this common that a starter will stop functioning if it isnt being used? How much will a starter cost me?

 

go to www.motorvate.ca

there's a write up on how to remove and regrease a starter w pics.

I've heard that tapping it a few times will sometimes get it working again temporarily.

The grease inside it dries up over the years and gums up the internals.

A new remanufactured one from autozone, pepboys, etc. will cost about $150 for the part. It's fairly easy to replace yourself.

 

Your battery is dead. A dead battery won't work with a boost, but a low battery will. If you never had problems with the starter, chances are, it's still fine. If the starter is bad, it will either sound like it's about to start, or you'll hear nothing. That clicking means you've got a dead battery.

 

I had the exact same thing happen to me, I couldn't jump it at all. I got mine running by push starting it and that charged the battery back up, but since your an auto, i'd try to borrow a battery charger from someone, or if all else fails, replace the battery.

 

I'm a brand Newbie,, Picked up my used 1996 I30 last monday, changed the starter on Friday. it is definately a FIY project took me most of the morning, but if I had to do it again it would be done in an hour or so. I found pictures and basic instructions in this forum,, Starter was $130 at Advance Auto parts

 

i agree. switch out for a brand new battery

 

Hope you get it fixed easily...when I got back from being in Europe for 3 weeks my rear wheels locked up and wouldn't turn...that was kind of weird.

 

Thanks for the feedback, i went to autozone with my battery and had him check the battery. When he checked it, the machine said that the battery is good. He let me take a new battery and try it on my car, and on my first try the car started. He said that something happened to my bettery/there is something wrong with it because the battery didnt die, it still was charged but at the same time not enough power was comin out of it. It just seems weird to me, only had the battery for a year, wish i had kept my receipt.

 

Very weird indeed..What brand of battery was it?

 

You should keep all your receipts and write the mileage on them. It's a good track record and is useful if you ever want to sell your car. I've got everything on an Excel spreadsheet, lol, but I'm an **** accountant.