Car will not start- video inside...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Mt Isle Harbor NC
Car will not start- video inside...
I need a little help before going to the dealership.
My car will not start and it is has been giving me indications that this day was coming.
I'm getting a charge system fault message.
Advanced Auto thought it was my alternator, so I put a new one in. No help. Next I thought it was the battery. I put a new one in yesterday. Still no help.
When you turn the key, it just clicks one time. All of the power options work (radio/lights/etc)
I have been able to get it to start after turning the key by as much as 20 times or so. But now, I'm not having any luck.
Lastly, the other day, I was driving down the interstate at 70mph, I get a charge system fault message and then see the bttery volt meter go all the way down to zero and the car quits, while going 70! I cruise over to the side of the road and have my wife come out with the jumper cables. Car starts up after some coaxing and she drives it home.
Here is the video of the sound:
Any advice?
My car will not start and it is has been giving me indications that this day was coming.
I'm getting a charge system fault message.
Advanced Auto thought it was my alternator, so I put a new one in. No help. Next I thought it was the battery. I put a new one in yesterday. Still no help.
When you turn the key, it just clicks one time. All of the power options work (radio/lights/etc)
I have been able to get it to start after turning the key by as much as 20 times or so. But now, I'm not having any luck.
Lastly, the other day, I was driving down the interstate at 70mph, I get a charge system fault message and then see the bttery volt meter go all the way down to zero and the car quits, while going 70! I cruise over to the side of the road and have my wife come out with the jumper cables. Car starts up after some coaxing and she drives it home.
Here is the video of the sound:
Any advice?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,004
Likes: 250
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
your sounds a little differant than mine, but my selniod in the starter doesnt engage. I think my headers are to close when only when the car is hot, it doesnt start but make about the same noise.
My car has never just died like yours on the side if the road.
But I have to turn the key on and off 10 + times waiting for the starter to catch
My car has never just died like yours on the side if the road.
But I have to turn the key on and off 10 + times waiting for the starter to catch
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,008
Likes: 49
From: Hoover, AL NCM Life Member #2438
your sounds a little differant than mine, but my selniod in the starter doesnt engage. I think my headers are to close when only when the car is hot, it doesnt start but make about the same noise.
My car has never just died like yours on the side if the road.
But I have to turn the key on and off 10 + times waiting for the starter to catch
My car has never just died like yours on the side if the road.
But I have to turn the key on and off 10 + times waiting for the starter to catch
Steven
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Check your battery cable where it bolts onto the starter solenoid. Cereal. 
Oh btw, whatever you do, make SURE you disconnect the negative battery cable before you go poking around down by, or on, the starter solenoid with anything metal in your hands or (on your fingers) unless you have a welded wrench/socket in mind.
Btw, the red positive lead from the alternator goes there too. Just in case you're wondering.
Oh btw, whatever you do, make SURE you disconnect the negative battery cable before you go poking around down by, or on, the starter solenoid with anything metal in your hands or (on your fingers) unless you have a welded wrench/socket in mind.
Btw, the red positive lead from the alternator goes there too. Just in case you're wondering.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Mt Isle Harbor NC
I popped the clutch to get it started and drove it to the dealership. While I can bolt on the headers and change the plugs, I'm not familiar enough to chase down the ground points or ignition switch contacts. So I'll pay these guys to do it.
I'll update the forum with what the dealership tells me, then you guys can let me know if the price is fair.
Thanks for the help!
-Oh, at the dealership, the car clicked once, I tried again and it started right up, two times in a row.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Mt Isle Harbor NC
How does one know that a solenoid is bad?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The dealer will NOT just replace the solenoid. Its a new GM Delco starter. Its a new $$$ GM DELCO $$$ , tarter or nothing.
Solenoid failure is a very common issue. However,,,,unless you do the trouble shooting, your shooting in the dark. Hope you kept all the old partshey were still good.
BC
Solenoid failure is a very common issue. However,,,,unless you do the trouble shooting, your shooting in the dark. Hope you kept all the old partshey were still good.
BC
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
The dealer will NOT just replace the solenoid. Its a new GM Delco starter. Its a new $$$ GM DELCO $$$ , tarter or nothing.
Solenoid failure is a very common issue. However,,,,unless you do the trouble shooting, your shooting in the dark. Hope you kept all the old partshey were still good.
BC
Solenoid failure is a very common issue. However,,,,unless you do the trouble shooting, your shooting in the dark. Hope you kept all the old partshey were still good.
BC
Yep. Even if they only find a loose battery cable down there, they are STILL likely to replace the entire starter assembly, and tell you "It was the starter sir, pay me". Got Vaseline?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Mt Isle Harbor NC
Well...
The dealership can not replicate the problem.
They said all of the ground wires look good. The starter cables look good. The car is starting everytime and the battey is charging, but only at 13 volts or so. They told me it should be between 14 and 14.7, so maybe the new (reman.) alternator I bought is not good?
Anyway, $55 so far for them to start my car up a dozen times and check all of the grounds.
The dealership can not replicate the problem.
They said all of the ground wires look good. The starter cables look good. The car is starting everytime and the battey is charging, but only at 13 volts or so. They told me it should be between 14 and 14.7, so maybe the new (reman.) alternator I bought is not good?
Anyway, $55 so far for them to start my car up a dozen times and check all of the grounds.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,458
Likes: 1,165
From: Dyer, IN
Well...
The dealership can not replicate the problem.
They said all of the ground wires look good. The starter cables look good. The car is starting everytime and the battey is charging, but only at 13 volts or so. They told me it should be between 14 and 14.7, so maybe the new (reman.) alternator I bought is not good?
Anyway, $55 so far for them to start my car up a dozen times and check all of the grounds.
The dealership can not replicate the problem.
They said all of the ground wires look good. The starter cables look good. The car is starting everytime and the battey is charging, but only at 13 volts or so. They told me it should be between 14 and 14.7, so maybe the new (reman.) alternator I bought is not good?
Anyway, $55 so far for them to start my car up a dozen times and check all of the grounds.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
Well...
The dealership can not replicate the problem.
They said all of the ground wires look good. The starter cables look good. The car is starting everytime and the battey is charging, but only at 13 volts or so. They told me it should be between 14 and 14.7, so maybe the new (reman.) alternator I bought is not good?
Anyway, $55 so far for them to start my car up a dozen times and check all of the grounds.
The dealership can not replicate the problem.
They said all of the ground wires look good. The starter cables look good. The car is starting everytime and the battey is charging, but only at 13 volts or so. They told me it should be between 14 and 14.7, so maybe the new (reman.) alternator I bought is not good?
Anyway, $55 so far for them to start my car up a dozen times and check all of the grounds.
Take some “KY Jelly” with you next time if you decide to allow the dealer to do more repairs or “diagnosing”.
Repair prices should escalate now that dealers need to supplement their business due to car sales being down. Since many Americans got their “cash for clunkers” deal, I think car sales will be lagging for quite some time. Ford, Toyota, and Honda benefited the most according to the Wall Street Journal.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
That would be my next line of troubleshooting too. Btw, I hope they did more than just "look" at the battery/alternator connections on the starter solenoid, as opposed to actually checking them for tightness, etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 12
From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Can you see if possibly you have a wire or battery cable touching the header? If a wire would burn on the header it will cause it to short out and not charge and start.