My car will not start. When I turn the key I hear rapid clicking but the engine does not turn over. The dashboard lights come on but they dim when I try to start.
Rapid clicking with dimming dashboard lights is the textbook symptom of a dead or dying battery. The battery has enough charge to power the lights and electronics but not enough to turn the starter motor. The clicking is the starter solenoid rapidly engaging and disengaging because it does not have sufficient power. Here is what to do. If you have jumper cables, connect them to another car: red to positive on dead battery, red to positive on good battery, black to negative on good battery, black to an unpainted metal surface on your car (not the battery negative). Let the good car run for 5 minutes, then try starting yours. If it starts, drive for at least 20 minutes to recharge the battery. Go to an auto parts store (AutoZone, O’Reilly) and they will test your battery for free. A car battery typically lasts 3-5 years. If yours is in that age range, replace it proactively. A new battery costs $100-200 depending on the size. If the battery is relatively new and keeps dying, the alternator (which charges the battery while driving) may be failing. The auto parts store can test this for free as well. An alternator replacement costs $300-600 at most shops.
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