Single click when trying to start truck

[chudly]

I left the dome light on by accident. Drove the truck for hours.

then left the hatch open for a few hours which in turn leaves the door puddle lights on.

I go to start the car and just get a single click.

I got a jump and the car started. Drove home for a few hours. tried to start the car to see how the battery was doing.

single click and then a slow start.

Car sat for a week and now it's back to a single click and nothing.

Is this a battery issue?

Battery is about 6 months old. It's a platinum AGM 24 from advance auto parts
Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

I took it in and they tested and gave it a quick 30 min charge. And kept trying to tell me my starter is bad or I have some electrical problem.

Is there a way to reach the starter to bang it?

Thanks

 

[YvesNL]

Take a voltmeter to your battery, is it full?

Deep discharge can actually damage the battery and shorten it's life significantly.

If the starter turns slowly it is more likely the battery. If the starter has trouble with doing anything at all, it could also be the starter.

A friend of my has the same problem right now (bad starter in his merc). Take a piece of wood to the starter, or slam the hood.

 

[flintknapper]

AGM batteries don't like to be completely (or nearly so) discharged. An inexpensive multimeter will tell you what the DC voltage is, let you check your alternator output as well. But ONLY 'load testing' will tell you the actual condition of the battery. It's 'age' has nothing to do with it.

Naturally, you'll want to check all your connections (battery leads, grounds, alternator leads). IF those are good AND the battery shows a full charge THEN I'd look to the starter.

You 'can' reach the starter with a long (3') piece of pipe/extension/other and tap the starter. You can access it from the passenger side though the intake runners. Take a flashlight and look in there, you will see where to tap the solenoid. Most likely your contacts are worn in the starter solenoid and a good tap or two will often dislodge enough debris to let the engine start, but it is a temporary fix.

 

[gil12]

I'm no expert, but I'd use a "smart" charger and see if it can bring it to full charge. If it can, use it and see if you have any further problems. If it can not reach full charge, replace the battery.
Gil

 

[gil12]

... But ONLY 'load testing' will tell you the actual condition of the battery. It's 'age' has nothing to do with it.

.

500 Amp Carbon Pile Load Tester has this load tester, they also have a smaller 100 amp tester for around 20 dollars.
Gil

 

[chudly]

Just checked with multimeter. 12.6X volts.

It's hard to tell where exactly the click is coming from since I don't have anyone around right now to help me turn the key while I listen.

charging up one of those jumper boxes right now to see if it'll start with that on there.

I just assumed that with a bad starter the car wouldn't started regardless but I was able to get the one click and then start last week and now that it sat. nothing.

thanks for the tip on where to bang on the starter @flintknapper . I gave it a go. nothing so far.