So for the past ~two weeks I’ve dealt with the clamp that goes around my negative post had been slipping off of the post. Today before work(seems to be only when you have somewhere to be) I went to crank my car, to hear a single click but no start.

Now, the lights come on, AC goes full blast, and the headlights and radio work. I jumped the battery from my wife’s car with no luck.

Based on this, could you give me some ideas/options/advice on how or what to fix/check? I have minimal tools and virtually no mechanical knowledge.

Any and all help is appreciated. Even if it’s just a “damn. That sucks.”

Video update. Yes I knowy car is dirty.

Didn’t know this community existed but in case someone else needs it later: https://lemmy.world/c/mechanicadvice

  • Bad_Engineering@fedia.io
    4·
    3 days ago

    Take both the battery terminals off, if there are crusty white or blue gunk on them you can use a little vinegar to clean it off. Clean the contacting parts of both terminals and where they connect to the battery with a wire brush till the metal looks at least vaguely shiny. Put the terminals back on and tighten them down with a wrench, if its an american car its usually a 1/2" if its an import its almost certainly a 10mm. If it doesn’t work after that try jumping it again, if it still doesn’t work its probably the starter or starter solenoid. You can try tapping on the starter solenoid with a hammer to unstick it as a temporary fix to get you going, but if you have to do that then it needs replaced sooner rather than later anyways.