Wont start just clicks, battery is 1 yr old, dials go crazy when trying to start it

Fully charged battery should be approx 12.6-13 volts if measured with a meter. Volts will drop when trying to start vehicle. It is not voltage you want to measure. It is amperage and you will need a tester to load the battery properly for testing. If the battery is over 5 yr old it may be defective. Try starting it with a boost to see if it starts. If it does, suspect a battery issue or something draining the battery

have battery checked, if it has an internal short boosting it won`t start it. also check battery cable connections at both ends for corrosion.

usually dials going crazy indicates low battery and/or failing alternator. Make sure they are 100 working before making a lot of other fixes.

check battery connections to ground, and battery connection to relay or starter.

Sounds like a bad battery cable or connection somewhere.

Have the battery load tested. Just because its 2yrs old, does not mean good.

try resetting the computer
disconnect the positive cable to your battery, leave off for a minute then reconnect

put the battery on charge for 24 hours and try again

I would check your battery connections, the cable may be faulty, if the gauges go crazy as your trying to start, then battery voltage is low to barely allowable. heat,cold, and rain are all factors. Good luck

I have 2003 Saturn Ion. I had this problem over and over 2006 - 2008. IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT IS DEFECTIVE IN ALL ION'S.The replacement may be defective also, not sure. Mine was driving fine, went ino store for 1 hr came out stone cold dead, would not start and key **** in. Had to have towed to Saturn. They said it was battery and replaced battery.I said this did not make sense. 6 yr battery only 3 yr old , never weak start, never run down, in summer? It happened again 2 mo later. They tried to say battery , I said no. They checked battery. It was fine. Could not find problem. They did total electrical check. It happened again 1 mo later. drove into feed store. Went in came out it happened again. I got jump from someone 30 min later and started right up. 2 wks later same, I got jump 20 min later started. 1 mo late same. Sometimes it would just start up. Took to another Saturn place. They said Ignition switch, saturn was having big problem with this on Ions. Got changed and no problems for 1 yr. I was talking to repesentative at Saturn Headquarters. I told the problem. They said the ignition switch has an electrical component, or it is hooked to electrical component. THEY SAID IF I HAD JUST SAT THERE 20 MIN WITH KEY OFF, THE COMPUTER CHIP FOR IT WOULD HAVE RESET ITSELF WHEN IT COOLED DOWN AND I COULD HAVE STARTED IT EACH TIME. IT WAS BEST TO GET REPLACED AND NOT WORRY, BUT THIS WILL HELP YOU IN A STRESSFUL PINCH, UNTIL YOU CAN GET THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. NOTE: Go to Auto Zone , O 'Reilleys, Pep Boys etc, get a repair manuel , CHILTON $ 23- $ 25 , for your year , make, model car. CHILTON IS MUCH BETTER THAN HAYES MANUEL. It is wonderful and many things you can do yourself.