Dreaded no start...sometimes...06
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
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Dreaded no start...sometimes...06
So lately my car has been having a no start problem. The car sat for about 4-5 months only driven maybe 500 miles in that time period (due to yet another great Chevy design...crank pulley wobble)
anyway I have bypassed the lower clutch switch and the problem has still occured a few times, so that tells me it's something else.
Sometimes, maybe 1 out of every 10 starts, i press the starter and it just clicks once. No turn of the starter, just a click. before i bypassed the clutch safety switch, i almost got stranded outside work and the click problem happened about 12 times in a row. no power to the starter just as click each time. finally it started, and again with no struggle it turned right over.
Battery is less than a year old, and when it doesn't click there is more than enough power for starting purposes. Car cranks hard and turns right over.
So does anyone else have the "click" problem when pressing the starter button? This sucks because I do not want this to leave me stranded one day, yet I don't want to replace every component of the starter system. Help!
06 z51 30k miles. Starting to **** me off with these "little" problems on a relatively new vehicle!!
anyway I have bypassed the lower clutch switch and the problem has still occured a few times, so that tells me it's something else.
Sometimes, maybe 1 out of every 10 starts, i press the starter and it just clicks once. No turn of the starter, just a click. before i bypassed the clutch safety switch, i almost got stranded outside work and the click problem happened about 12 times in a row. no power to the starter just as click each time. finally it started, and again with no struggle it turned right over.
Battery is less than a year old, and when it doesn't click there is more than enough power for starting purposes. Car cranks hard and turns right over.
So does anyone else have the "click" problem when pressing the starter button? This sucks because I do not want this to leave me stranded one day, yet I don't want to replace every component of the starter system. Help!
06 z51 30k miles. Starting to **** me off with these "little" problems on a relatively new vehicle!!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
The battery is the first thing to check. A one year old battery can and will deteriorate while sitting for 4 or 5 months. Your description of the problem sounds like a weak battery. Either put charger on it or have a load test done to see if it's still good. 
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,548
Likes: 609
From: Southeast, WI
Also sounds like it could be a bad connection. Check battery for corrosion and tightness. Also, a ground wire, starter wire, solenoid. As was said by op, it could be the battery even if new. Have it load tested.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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How many grounds Are there in the engine bay? and where? I guess I could pull each one and sand down contact points. I usually do the big 3 when I install audio stuff, but wasn't planning that for a while on this car.
I didn't want to just start spending $ replacing stuff unless I knew that was the problem, that could get costly. That's why I posted here to see if anyone else had the problem and found a definitive fix or cause of the same problem. Thanks so far!!
I didn't want to just start spending $ replacing stuff unless I knew that was the problem, that could get costly. That's why I posted here to see if anyone else had the problem and found a definitive fix or cause of the same problem. Thanks so far!!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
How many grounds Are there in the engine bay? and where? I guess I could pull each one and sand down contact points. I usually do the big 3 when I install audio stuff, but wasn't planning that for a while on this car.
I didn't want to just start spending $ replacing stuff unless I knew that was the problem, that could get costly. That's why I posted here to see if anyone else had the problem and found a definitive fix or cause of the same problem. Thanks so far!!
I didn't want to just start spending $ replacing stuff unless I knew that was the problem, that could get costly. That's why I posted here to see if anyone else had the problem and found a definitive fix or cause of the same problem. Thanks so far!!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 13
From: Toccoa GA
Does your check engine light come on at all? I am having the exact same issue. Two days ago, I checked the enine bay, connections and all. I found a plastic bag and a paper towel stuck on the front of my radiator, underneath the plastic shroud. I removed and cleaned. Test car 3x, all started fine. Went all day yesterday with no start issues and no check engine light. Today, same thing. Started this AM, went to gym and then to work, then home. Everytime, started with no issues. Got home this evening and my wife needs to run to store. She said the car would not start and check engine light is back on. After 3 tries, the car started.
By the way, I did check my battery. 12.68 with car off, little drop when starting car and over 15 volt with car idling. I even had Advance Auto test it, Optima Red Top. They said it was fine.
When the car does decide to start, it starts right up.
I am waiting for a scanner/tuner in mail to read codes. Will repost if I find anything.
By the way, I did check my battery. 12.68 with car off, little drop when starting car and over 15 volt with car idling. I even had Advance Auto test it, Optima Red Top. They said it was fine.
When the car does decide to start, it starts right up.
I am waiting for a scanner/tuner in mail to read codes. Will repost if I find anything.
Last edited by Homeboy77; Jul 22, 2011 at 09:36 PM. Reason: Typo
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 13
From: Toccoa GA
C6Topless also had this listed in another thread.
I just got some Rhino ramps and will check the solenoid tomorrow. It is definitely been hot lately and it seems when the car is hot, like when I got home tonight, it has the most issues.
ALSO -- it should be noted that the hot weather "click - click" start problem may be attributed to the solenoid start wire ( it is a plug style prone to problems -- i.e plug with the purple wire ) ... this plug is heat sensitive and when it overheats, it can cause the "click-click" no start problem... what you may consider is swapping to a standard post type solenoid and eliminating that plug. It has been the fix with several of my friends that had the hot weather "click click" problem
Last edited by Homeboy77; Jul 22, 2011 at 09:43 PM. Reason: add
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 510
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From: Toccoa GA
Fixed my issue. It was definitley the solenoid on the starter. One bolt was completely broken off and hanging by just the battery wire. I bought a 1999 Chevy Tahoe solenoid, cut the connector off that is on the purple wire from car and added a round connector to the wire. Hooked it up and car is starting fine now. Whew!!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Well I got under there and checked it from the top. no broken or melted wires, and no broken clips. I tried wiggling everything around and everything was tight. I swapped the starter relay as well, and hooked up a deka 904D battery with jumper cables while trying to diagnose the problem.
Got the click problem 3 times in a row. then it started flawlessly literally 30 times. 30 times not a single hiccup. so i gave up, washed the car etc then tried to start it and click. again click. then third try started right up. grrrrrr!!!
only thing left is the actual starter and solenoid assembly itself. i'm guessing i will have to replace the entire thing. starting to get reallll annoyed with this car, i might as well have bought a german car with all these little problems~~
Got the click problem 3 times in a row. then it started flawlessly literally 30 times. 30 times not a single hiccup. so i gave up, washed the car etc then tried to start it and click. again click. then third try started right up. grrrrrr!!!
only thing left is the actual starter and solenoid assembly itself. i'm guessing i will have to replace the entire thing. starting to get reallll annoyed with this car, i might as well have bought a german car with all these little problems~~
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,548
Likes: 176
From: Upstate NY
Fixed my issue. It was definitley the solenoid on the starter. One bolt was completely broken off and hanging by just the battery wire. I bought a 1999 Chevy Tahoe solenoid, cut the connector off that is on the purple wire from car and added a round connector to the wire. Hooked it up and car is starting fine now. Whew!!
