2000 LS won't start

Hi. I haven't found the exact symptoms I'm experiencing on this site, so I'm posting my own question. My 2000 Saturn LS won't start. The battery appears to be fine. The lights are bright, the stereo is loud. But when I turn the key I just hear a single click sound in the engine compartment, on the right side near the windshield if you're facing the car head on. There is no "cranking" sound whatsoever. It doesn't sound like it's trying to start at all. I have the clutch in all the way (it's a manual), but maybe the car doesn't know this. Any thoughts?

Reply to
3valve
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Reply to
jdoe

Have you tried getting a jump from another vehicle, you know using jumper cables? Will it start with a jump? If you leave the dome-lite on and turn the key to start, is there any reaction from the dome-lite, stays the same, goes out?

Reply to
jdl

There is a smaller gage wire that comes off your + battery post and goes to your starter. If it isnt making a good contact everything but your starter will work.

Reply to
blah blah

Thanks for all the good ideas. In the mean time I called a local mechanic. He said the battery had gotten bad enough that it could not turn over the starter even though it could pass on enough electricity to operate the lights, radio, etc. I tested 12 volts with my volt meter. The guy I talked to said I needed a load reader in order to test the battery correctly, that my volt meter wasn't good enough. Because the battery was bad (couldn't generate enough load), I couldn't even jump it (as the battery needs to be good to jump a car because the jumper juice goes through the old battery?). I followed his advise and got a new battery and the car started right up.

Reply to
3valve

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