Jumped in the van Saturday turned the key and heard click-click click! My first thought was battery,but I saw that the interior lights and headlights were on and did not look dim. Battery is about 3-4 years old. I didn't gave time to mess with it till yesterday and I was going to try to jump start it but when I turned the key this time it started right up. I could see the alternator was charging so I let it run for about 10 minutes and shut it off and tried to restart and it did. I just let it be for a couple of days since I don't drive it much since the pandemic. I tried it this morning, and again it started right up again. I moved it a few feet so I could work on it easier if I had to,shut it off and tried to start it again and I got click click click. My question is could it be the battery? what's throwing me is the lights are not dim at all. cables are tight at the battery. Would a dead cell produce this symptom or is it something else? Any input appreciated.

 

get the battery tested. Battery retailers usually do it for free.

 

My daughter's car used to do this all the time and the problem was dirty connectors at the battery. Remove and clean the terminals and connectors with a wire brush, maybe some baking soda solution.

The corrosion may allow enough current for light bulbs and such, but not enough for the starter, so click-click-click.

Oh, and 10 minutes on idle isn't enough to charge a battery much, the alternator doesn't put out as much current at the low RPMs. Check the battery with a voltmeter, ignition off. Should see over 12.5V if it's in decent shape.