Hard Start? Not Starting? Click sound? Find Out Why | Dead Battery Alternator Starter Test

Are you having trouble starting your car? Did you just get a new battery and it still won't start? Are you just getting a clicking noise?
It's usually one of three things: You starter, battery or alternator. In this video Josh walks you through the process, step by step, of diagnosing exactly what it is and explains why a full diagnosis is important.
In this video Josh diagnoses a Honda Odyssey but this applies to any gas powered vehicle.
Tools Needed:
-Socket set or wrench
-Multimeter: amzn.to/2NzbZq4
-Jumper cables
Optional: Aligator clips: amzn.to/2QUdvkG
- Please if you like this video do us a solid and subscribe. It enables us to continue making useful videos! Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@vanessamartinez839]

Tysm. As a woman not wanting to get taken advantage of at the shop , I’m very grateful!

[@meatballmagoo6134]

I will take you woman

[@imperatorfuriosa7061]

It really pays to know what's up before you get ripped off!

[@brizzles6183]

@@meatballmagoo6134shut up

[@octupy01]

Same sister ... Same.

[@habibah2702]

I wish I saw this video before I spent $800 for a new Battery and Starter to still be deing with the dame issue again! 😫

[@chelseagarrett7142]

I am so glad I found your channel! I appreciate your concise, step-by-step explanations and the way you speak slowly and clearly for those of us unfamiliar with cars. I have a multi-meter, but I've never used it due to fear of electricity. After watching your tutorial, I feel like I can do this! Well done.

[@allthatetc9221]

THANK YOU ! Thank you for the SOUND @1:33!!! and thank you for @4:34 and THANK YOU for this video in its entirety !!! Smart production, minimal editing, captivating online education, precise, professional AND sooooooo darn helpful!

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Thanks for watching!

[@RodrinBird]

I often wondered how to diagnose these three separately and you pretty much answered all the question I had. Great video!

[@Iconoclast1919]

This is a really well done video! He gets right into it immediately, speaks clearly, shows everything and explains everything really well even to someone like myself who isn't very familiar with cars. This video helped me narrow down the problem to my battery or alternator AND showed me exactly how I can determine which one of those two is the problem tomorrow when my friend brings the multimeter.

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

You got this!

[@mannyg747]

Thank you, Josh. Best explanation ever. Very detailed and to the point. God bless.

[@erichfaust3366]

This was brilliant! You kept to the topic and the info was clear and concise. Thank you!

[@joeybadass4877]

Top G ! Gets straight into it no mucking around awesome communication bro much respect from New Zealand !

[@mateo_no_swiping]

Thank you for not making this a vlog where we go with you to Home Depot to buy a multimer or new battery, then get Chipotle and name the video "7 REASONS YOUR CAR WON'T...". Concise and easy to comprehend. Subscribed.

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Thanks for the inspiration for my next video 😆

[@mateo_no_swiping]

@@BudgetMechanicHawaii lmao

[@matthewgiacobbe3474]

Great video man. Straight to it and no nonsense. I like the trick to check alternator...I dont have a multimeter at the moment.

[@ethandubble6130]

Great video, followed the steps and found exactly what was wrong. Battery died too many times and did not have the ability to hold a charge. Big thanks to this video.

[@taiyonda5130]

Hey Josh awesome and well explained in detail video...thx will let ya know how i got on with the same symptoms.

[@TakwaEstate]

By far the best video i have seen to diagnose a dead car.

[@johnarelovana5270]

Thanks for this very interesting informative video, i was having the exact problem with my corolla for weeks now..👍👍👍

[@thedude9383]

Good job. It was throughly informative, easy to understand and professionally filmed.

[@godisamazing7074]

Thanks for explaining everything so clearly so people who know nothing about car repair can understand.

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

I'm glad it helped!

[@markroberts1838]

Bahaahaa!

[@beejj6190]

Great video...I wonder if anyone has any comments on my situation: Now my battery (a year old Varta) has been suffering from a drain in my car - to the point it has been going increasingly flat. But... the last three days my car started cutting out while driving... yet, I could re-start it (so not a starter motor issue) and drive on. But today it finally decided it would cut out more than ever before (multiple times) and totally drain the battery - which, to me, suggests eitrher 1) An alternator no longer powering the bad battery or 2) The bad battery is now basically dead (so whatever the alternator does no longer matters). I managed to jump-start (after 10 mins) off my partner's car as a test... and only got about half a mile before it cut out again. I'll be replacing the battery asap. But do i *also* have an alternator problem? Of course, i will confirm this when I finally manage to get the car from where I had to leave it!

[@amyclay2864]

So if the car doesn’t start when jump start car doesn’t the car, it means it’s the starter?

[@ezekieltong12]

Bro this is the best explanation in youtube. I was able to find out it was a battery problem (repeating clicking noise).

[@RSONE32]

Hey thanks for the great video! I found out the problem and looked really cool in front of my girlfriend :) Took me 8 minutes to find out the problem and got it replaced instantly. You da real mvp cuhz.

[@Murhamdilah]

Great diagnose. My NSX is having exactly this problem. I will get the multimeter and check if there is big parasitic draw. Battery is also brand new.

[@jackfrost1774]

Im not a auto guy at all, got more into construction/carpentry growing up. This video was very helpful, thank you very much

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

We need to trade skills sometime!

[@sengmuhammad462]

Dude is amazing. I learned so much from this guy and I know NOTHING about cars but go to the shops like I own them now. Nice job brother

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

That’s what I like to hear 🤙🏽

[@sengmuhammad462]

@Budget Mechanic Hawaii your a blessing dude I swear on life

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Thanks man!

[@kathylynnneeley5059]

You explain it really well and just love your videos!

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Thanks 👍🏼

[@Raya-5544]

OMG wow a straight forward , right to the point video , thank you !! .....watched other videos and they sucked !!!

[@MrCosmos110]

Excellent, Video, no Horsing around, just the facts. Thanks

[@kaycadette]

VERY HELPFUL!! Now I can talk mechanic-ese and mechanics won’t look at me as if I don’t know what I’m talking about!!

[@lalasworld7870]

Definitely sis

[@BongBoy2018]

Start problem in my Accord EXL2013. Click sound was clear. Here is what I did to resolve the issue. I paid 90$ for complete diagnosis at a Honda Service Center. They found faulty starter. Total Quote was 600$ for starter+299$ for labor. Estimate was ~950$. I took the part number from them and ordered a brand new starter from Genuine honda parts that cost me 275$. Then for the installation, i went back to Honda service center. Installation cost was 200$ as they deducted the 90$ I paid for the diagnosis. So overall repair cost was around 575$ which was way better than paying 950$. The issue has been resolved and I have driven the car after repair for another 100 miles. No trouble starting at all. Honda has a faulty starters in 2013,2014,2015 series. They are fully aware of that but will never accept or recall. This will be my last Honda car. PS: Starters are not covered under powertrain warranty. Don't waste your time

[@Mike_44]

Awesome tutorial! Thanks so much for posting 👍🏻

[@adrianaantillonrealtor]

Thank you for all the valuable information! It's helping me a lot.

[@amisstew3]

Wow, well done. Clear and concise

[@trivikramchebrolu1823]

You are very clear and detail in your video. You are an awesome instructor and youtuber.

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Thank you 🤙🏽

[@Z15TEENG]

Best step by step test.👍🌹

[@donnovongraham1752]

I like how he explains it an breaks it down almost like hands on ❤

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Glad you liked it

[@marcosolis8603]

True mechanic!! Thanks bro

[@mommyoftwo5414]

Love this video. Straight to the point but very informative

[@YelpBullhorn]

Very helpful video. Many thinks. My van battery keeps dying, and it's only 12 months old. Time to get my multimeter out, methinks!

[@bobbynguyen9763]

Great video man! It helped me a lot! Thanks!

[@luisramirez1161]

You did a great job explaining thank you ,

[@subirkrishnan]

Very informative video Josh! Short and straight to the point.

[@jLTV1995]

Thank you, Very Helpful.❤

[@nesimoa5356]

Thank you for this video. I had to go through so many to finally get an answer for my dodge nitro. Thank you for getting to the point.

[@zack_120]

Very thorough, super helpful !

[@andrewboagey282]

Great presentation thanks.. Andrew, Dorking, England

[@Mark-ge1nh]

Appreciated the video. Yes, if you can jump it, and it starts, probable not the starter. Especially, if you had to do it a few times after the car was running , then left to sit, and not starting until you jumped it again. I like the way you checked for the possible parasitic drain added to your video. Once I had my car started and ran it awhile I checked the battery with car off and it was ok 12.4. Then I ran the car checking the alternator and it was working producing a voltage charge in the proper range, but after sitting a few hours voltage on the battery was down to 10.1. No parasitic drain thanks to your check. Just an old bad battery! Our weather changed to cold and exposed it. I got 6 yrs 2 mo. out of a 3 year warranty battery. No complaints, but thank you for helping diagnose.

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

No worries

[@jessepalacio5542]

Great video, very detailed guide.

[@SilverE15]

Phenomenal job explaining

[@forhisglory700]

Thanks for the tutorial. It helped me out a great deal; and saved me money. Cheers !!!

[@johnrodriguez1145]

Great video. Great information. Thanks

[@udayaranawaka1235]

Very nice explain, thank you.

[@greatagainmowing8296]

Excellent, excellent video! Thanks so much!!!

[@miguelromero1]

Good video. Well explained. Thanks

[@Una2Cold]

Best video on the topic! I will be subscribing. Thank you

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Awesome, thank you!

[@ja7onsevan586]

This is a great video. Nice work mate

[@brentonnaidoo1644]

Hey there, great video, I have a Renault clio 2 2005, I have trouble starting but has full crank, I played around with relays it came right but then did the same thing, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[@rayonclarke4807]

Thanks man, your video was very helpful.

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Glad to hear I!

[@amyshaw444]

Thank you so much! This was really helpful 😊

[@SoulsTiedTightly]

This was very helpful thanks

[@sajjadaslam9150]

Brilliant. V. Nicely explained 👍

[@BEairsoftTV]

Thanks for this video 👍🏻

[@kevinanderson6496]

Best video. Honestly. You helped me. Thanks 🙏

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

That’s why I make these 🤙🏽

[@catsurreal1655]

When my starter recently died, it still made the turning over sound a few times before it really died! I wish i had have known about lightly taping the starter with a spanner etc. to get things going temporarily. But great video!

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Thanks!

[@savedby_grace6110]

Excellent!

[@rrrddd4863]

Holy smokes!

[@bethdevoe2842]

Thank you! You helped me! Have a great day. :)

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Glad it helped!

[@riadhch5643]

Thank you Well explained

[@phoenixrising323susanburnl8]

Awesome video. Well done

[@mmmmkay7035]

I like your explanation

[@renenunez4015]

Tanks so much exelente video tanks

[@ammar1933]

Thanks so much Great video My Nissan Murano I just bought a rebuild battery but no start then I changed my starter and crank slow but no start I boost it and no start please can you tell me what should I do?do I have to change the spark plugs? Thanks Toronto Ontario Canada

[@SoHoMerchant]

thank you!

[@teararoa1527]

My old battery wasn’t starting the car anymore so I bought a new one it only ran for 2 days and now the car won’t start but the sounds of the video the starter motor is good

[@sgtpeppers3021]

This is great! Thanks!

[@windows4224]

Thanks bro it helped!

[@roblox_horse9341]

Great video.

[@animeacademy1534]

That Killer Instinct music at the end tho. Thanks 🙏

[@ivangault7572]

Thank you helped me diagnose my alternator Gdam Mazda’s

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Glad to help 🤙🏽

[@beejj6190]

Great video...I wonder if anyone has any comments on my situation: Now my battery (a year old Varta) has been suffering from a drain in my car - to the point it has been going increasingly flat. But... the last three days my car started cutting out while driving... yet, I could re-start it (so not a starter motor issue) and drive on. But today it finally decided it would cut out more than ever before (multiple times) and totally drain the battery - which, to me, suggests eitrher 1) An alternator no longer powering the bad battery or 2) The bad battery is now basically dead (so whatever the alternator does no longer matters). I managed to jump-start (after 10 mins) off my partner's car as a test... and only got about half a mile before it cut out again. I'll be replacing the battery asap. But do i also have an alternator problem? Of course, i will confirm this when I finally manage to get the car from where I had to leave it!

[@snowbunny1001]

This is great info!! Thanks so much for posting this! 8D

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

🤙🏽

[@user-qv9bd8qj9h]

thank you so much super helpful

[@joehyundaitech7961]

Josh hi thanks for the video. I just tested my alternator with my multy meter and I got 14.23 14.24 is this ok or is my alternator over charging my battery ? let me know please

[@gulabkeerio1930]

good job

[@anisshivani8684]

great job.

[@canadianloon6433]

Awesome video

[@levon5574]

Very nice video thx

[@johnhoyle1647]

U get a subscribe for this one!! Thanks for it!

[@thecongenital3035]

Amazing video no win off to buy that dc voltage thingy lol

[@Sufficient4UsIsAllah]

Excellent video. Thank you. I have parasitic draw. Alternator’s good, as is starter so I’ve been told. Battery is less than a year old. Three mechanics later and still no idea what’s the problem is :(

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

You can hook up a multimeter like I did then start pulling fuses and see when the draw goes away

[@TH-vb6iw]

EXCELLENT presentation AND you live in Hawaii ? I'm so jealous ! ))

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

Thanks!

[@HuskieeWahnn]

Thank you

[@magical8013]

I have to check out the wiring because the alternator and the battery and the starter are good. But it will not turn over unless I jump start it with portable jumper cables.

[@imadhalbouni4565]

great video thanks

[@BudgetMechanicHawaii]

You are welcome!

[@raquelfrazier3241]

Life saving video!!!!!

[@jamesmata2945]

That scrambler is so damn beautiful

[@manusreenivasan5310]

No one can explain better than this. I got the same problem, ditto noise. I was is doubt. coz the battery was showing 12.4V (idle) and the value was not dropping while trying to crank (even though it couldn't start). I am not having a load meter with me. Let me get a jumper guy. Thanks from India.

[@MyRavenstorm]

Ok I agree with the diagnosis and testing but what if your having the same problem as in the beginning plus I have a brand new battery, I also have a brand new alternator, new cables throughout and a new solenoid as well. I’m currently replacing the starter at the moment. It was the old one only 1 year old. What then if it’s still doing the same thing. Btw it’s on a 1989 Chevrolet with a 454 cid 4 barrel for the make and engine size. It also has 55,608 actual miles on odometer.

[@richardrampersad1830]

Good job dude, now I'm sure I need a new damn battery. Shesh.

[@robinmariejohnson537]

A well done video, very easy to understand!

[@armandohiguera5681]

May sound like a stupid question but can I touch terminals if they are wet. I used hit water to remove corrosion.

[@Clifford11998866]

My van is doing the exact same as this. I changed the battery 2 weeks ago now its doing it again? Is it the alternator?

[@MariaDelgado-ir2yu]

i have a 2014 Cruze i just chang the start but it still does this the alternator is new n so is the battery but the only way is cranks if i jump start it could it be the cables from the stater that connect to the alternator also n the to the positive

[@kennedywong9854]

Bad alternator can cause car not to start? I pop 75 amp fuse under the hood, I found out it was missing plastic cap on positive lead so fix it, and now the starter click. Battery brand new and both terminal are new. What can be wrong?