While driving my car my engine died. i would push on the gas and it would rattle loudly. rattling sound was feint when i let off the gas. then after about 10 miles it died. this clicking/ rattling sound has been going on for a while. before this incident the sound would only come up when i would drive the car harder than normal. for about a month before this happened the car was running roughly and on one occasion the engine died right after i started it. i was able to get it running again after a few tries. what is happening now is i turn the key and the engine clicks loudly and nothing happens. all my dash lights work and i replaced the alternator but it didnt do anything. if there is any suggestions please post them.

 

Frankly it sounds like you might have multiple problems...

Engine not starting just making a clicking noise could be your Starter.

The Rattle could be almost anything...

Does it sound like the engine turns over just won't start or do you just get a click?

If it's just a click I'd guess the starter. It might be the cable running to the starter instead though. The click is probably the Starter solenoid.

Can you push start your car? If you can then the starter seems much more likely.

I hope that this helps,

Z.

 

please tell me that you changed the oil regularly. that clicking sound sounds like you ran it on dirty or low oil which leads me to believe it started in your top end. however, if it was a bottom end problem, then it sounds a lot to me like a siezed engine. did it die when the car was on? if so, and you cannot get it to turn over, then it sounds an awful lot like a siezed engine.

 

Why did you replace the alternator? Clicking during starting can be the starter solenoid failing (doesn't push starter gear into contact with flywheel.)

Loud rattle under load and faint rattle everywhere else.....Connecting rod knock? If a con rod snapped, your motor is done.

Low oil can lead to noisey lifters and leak-down which alters how your valves open/close making it run like crap...Could also have spun a bearing on the main journal due to poor lubrication.

You can try hand cranking the motor if you can get a breaker bar and proper tool onto the front of the crankshaft. Take the spark plugs out to reduce compression to make it easier to hand crank the motor. This will tell you at least if the motor is capable of turning or not. (If it's seized, you won't move it.)

Disconnect the battery when you do this.