Girlfriends car is having problems..

So I haven't gone to look at it yet. She says when she turns the key it clicks, just like the battery was dead. But she insists the battery is fully charged. She said she cleaned the terminals and everything is connected correctly. I don't know enough about cars to check half the stuff mentioned here. I really want her to sell it but if she traded it in the thing is only worth like 3 grand. She just spent 500 on brakes, got a new battery, new (used) alternator, taken it in to get looked at three or four times now. I don't know what to do.

 

if the coil is cracked replace it first. replace whatever is keeping it from cranking over too. a new battery can fail. happens a lot more than youd think

 

Unless she had the battery tested how does she know it's good?

 

multi meter and google

http://www.type2.com/bartnik/starter.htm

 

I feel like I would kill myself or break something if I try that. I can test the battery for her but other than that I'm not savy enough to know what the deal is.

 

Ck and recheck battery cables paying special attention to ground strap. Trace ground cable to point of termination, engine block or frame and tighten/clean terminals. Also check field wire for tight connection on back of alternator. If this happens when hot/ after reaching normal operating temp then locate and test crank position sensor using a VOM.