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Car trouble

T

Tal

Golden Member
2001 Chevy Cavalier 2.2

Started up fine yesterday on my way to Menards for some Black Friday goodness. Wouldn't start up right away in the lot after I left the store. Got it started and went to BB. Again wouldn't start. Banged on starter and messed with the gear shift a little, and got it to start. That was the last time. Left it running and went into pep boys and bought a new starter. Replaced the starter last night. Thing does not crank up when I turn the key. Lights all come on fine, fan starts if it's on, sounds like Solenoid clicks. No cranking.

Anyone have any idea what this could be? All the shops by me are closed till Monday. I can get parts if I need. Let me know what you experts think. Thanks, -Tal

EDIT: I shorted (with a screwdriver), the starter, and got it to spin that way. It doesn't sound like it's engaging though.
 
Check your battery's connections. Make sure you're getting full power to everything.

Also, lights take far less amperage than spinning the starter. This sounds very much like a low battery. If the solenoid is clicking then it's not the park-start interlock switch so that issue is eliminated.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Check your battery's connections. Make sure you're getting full power to everything.

Also, lights take far less amperage than spinning the starter. This sounds very much like a low battery. If the solenoid is clicking then it's not the park-start interlock switch so that issue is eliminated.

ZV
Click to expand...


so is that the ignition switch that's working then? I was worried about the ignition switch...

I put a multimeter on the battery and got a steady 12
 
Originally posted by: Tal
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Check your battery's connections. Make sure you're getting full power to everything.

Also, lights take far less amperage than spinning the starter. This sounds very much like a low battery. If the solenoid is clicking then it's not the park-start interlock switch so that issue is eliminated.

ZV
Click to expand...
so is that the ignition switch that's working then? I was worried about the ignition switch...

I put a multimeter on the battery and got a steady 12
Click to expand...
If the solenoid is clicking, the ignition switch is working. Double-check that all the electrical connections are solid and clean though.

ZV
 
I missed the part where you determined the battery was not the culprit. I'd have swapped that out before the starter. That goes for the relay/solenoid as well, if it's not attached to the starter.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
I missed the part where you determined the battery was not the culprit. I'd have swapped that out before the starter. That goes for the relay/solenoid as well, if it's not attached to the starter.
Click to expand...
For a 2001 Cavalier the solenoid is on the starter. Almost all modern cars have it on the starter. Makes it a pain because it used to be that you could replace just the bendix unit without replacing the starter.

ZV
 
I iddn't determine that it wasn't the battery. I'm gonna pull it outta the garage and try to jump it in just a minute. My dad (Who evidently only plays a mechanic on TV...) claimed it was the starter. So I'm down almost $200 now. Not a big deal, but I just wanna figure it out. I'll report back when I try to jump start it. That should eliminate the battery as the problem right?

Thanks again for the responses!
 
Hope you can get a decent connection to jump it. I HATE side terminals! If it starts, that means not enough power was getting to the starter. That could be because the battery was low, or had a bad connection (Side terminals again!). A bad/corroded relay would also prevent power from getting to the starter.

A bad alternator would keep a good battery from fully charging, so that should be checked. Use your VOM to check voltage with the car off. With the car running, that voltage should be about two volts higher. That would mean the alternator is doing its job.
 
At 4 years its very likely that the battery isn't holding a charge... hopefully thats the case because its the easiest to fix & yes if it fires right up when you jump it then its the battery, you should be sure to check the alternator too though, otherwise you might kill the new battery.
 
I just tried jumping it. I didn't get the draw down on the engine like I'm used to when I normally jump a car, but it didn't seem to affect it at all. The car still didn't do more than click. When I short the two posts on the starter with a screwdriver, I can hear it running the starter motor, but it doesn't crank. Any other thoughts? I'm doubtful that there is water in the distibutor, although it did snow here yesterday.
 
Well that complicates things a bit... I agree that its not likely to be a wet engine part, but thats not going to help much... could be the engines computer or the electronic ignition, but these are only guess's. Your best bet is to take it to somone who has a diagnostic computer like a Chevy dealer & have them test it for you before you spend more money on it.
 
I'm gonna try to take the battery somewhere that they can test it to verify that this isn't the problem for sure. MY father-in-law- keeps saying battery also...
 
Probably AutoZone will, but be prepared to buy a battery from them if they go through the trouble. You'll get more battery for your money at Walmart, though.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
Probably AutoZone will, but be prepared to buy a battery from them if they go through the trouble. You'll get more battery for your money at Walmart, though.
Click to expand...

AutoZone will. I'd rather buy a battery from AutoZone than Walmart because they're made by Johnson Controls (makers of Interstate, Die Hard, Optima, and many OEMs such as Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Ford) instead of Exide (which never seem to last as long in my experience).
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
Johnson Controls Battery, Inc.
  • Its batteries are sold at retailers such as AutoZone, Pep Boys, and Wal-Mart. Johnson Controls Battery is also Tier One supplier to automotive OEMs including Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, and Toyota...
Click to expand...

I'm a little late with this, but the batteries at my local Wal-Marts all say "Distributed by Exide" or something close to that. I haven't seen a Johnson controls car battery in Wal-Mart in about three years now.
 
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