I got my 2013 Sonic LS exactly 30 days ago, and today I'm having my first problem with it. This morning it wouldn't start, all I could hear was a rapid clicking sound from the engine area when I turned the key. Didn't have any time to troubleshoot it because I had to rush to work (in my other car).
When I came home from work I turned the key and the starter was weak at first but then it turned over and the engine started. I turned the engine off and measured 12.9V on my multimeter.
Went to Autozone and checked the battery and they said it was bad.
But... it was not the original battery. The car is only 4 years old and 55K miles, and I'm already on the 3rd battery!!
Has anybody else had this problem? Could it be the alternator? If the alternator is faulty, how do you troubleshoot it and what exactly is it doing to harm the battery? Too much voltage? Not enough voltage?
How many hours of labor is it to change the alternator?
Thanks for any help.
p.s. Duralast Gold H5 battery... $185 ouch.
When I came home from work I turned the key and the starter was weak at first but then it turned over and the engine started. I turned the engine off and measured 12.9V on my multimeter.
Went to Autozone and checked the battery and they said it was bad.
But... it was not the original battery. The car is only 4 years old and 55K miles, and I'm already on the 3rd battery!!
Has anybody else had this problem? Could it be the alternator? If the alternator is faulty, how do you troubleshoot it and what exactly is it doing to harm the battery? Too much voltage? Not enough voltage?
How many hours of labor is it to change the alternator?
Thanks for any help.
p.s. Duralast Gold H5 battery... $185 ouch.