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Car will not crank

Tiny
TED PAJOR
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA
  • 3.1L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 156,000 MILES
Car will not crank, security light goes out, battery good, starter okay. Turn the key to start the starter clicks but will not crank. Manually make the starter work with a screwdriver it cranks but engine will not start.
Sunday, December 31st, 2017 AT 11:48 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
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I assume what you hear is the starter relay clicking.
Try a new starter (theft deterrent) relay located under right side of dash above the glove box, or swap one in the same type/size.
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Sunday, December 31st, 2017 AT 1:15 PM
Tiny
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I had the starter tested and it was okay. I also changed the starter relay and still the same problem.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 6:39 AM
Tiny
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Is it the actual starter solenoid on the starter motor that is clicking or is it that starter (theft deterrent) relay located under right side of dash that is clicking?
When you replaced the starter did it come with a new solenoid? If not, then it appears that starter solenoid on the starter is bad or the wiring is loose on it.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 6:47 AM
Tiny
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When I turn the key I can feel the starter relay clicking and I can hear the starter solenoid clicking under the hood.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 6:50 AM
Tiny
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When you replaced the starter did it come with a new solenoid? If not, then it appears that starter solenoid on the starter is bad or the wiring is loose on it.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 7:09 AM
Tiny
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I can hook up my remote starter button to the starter while it is on the car press the button and the engine will crank, but it will not crank from the key just click.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
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Perhaps you should use a voltmeter and check how much voltage is actually reaching that starter solenoid from the starter relay. If it is low, it could be enough to make it click, but not actually enough to power the starter solenoid. It should be the full twelve volts.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 7:40 AM
Tiny
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When I checked it this morning it was 0 degrees outside I was getting about 10 volts at the S terminal
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Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018 AT 6:58 AM
Tiny
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I hooked up jumper cables and it's still only clicks at the starter
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Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018 AT 6:59 AM
Tiny
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It should be 12 volts. It should read whatever the battery reads minus maybe 0.4 volts. If you were jump starting, the battery should have been more than 12 volts, possibly 14 volts, what did the S terminal read then with the key on start, while jumping?
If it was still 10 volts, you are going to have to find out where you are loosing 2 volts from.
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Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018 AT 7:04 AM
Tiny
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I have the jumper cables on their the battery was reading 13.5 with the cables and at the S terminal I was getting 11.5 with the starter clicking and not cranking the engine
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Thursday, January 4th, 2018 AT 6:41 AM
Tiny
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Odd, and this S terminal is the same place you are hooking this remote start to?
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Thursday, January 4th, 2018 AT 6:49 AM
Tiny
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Will crank if I jump it with a screwdriver but if I try from the ignition just clicks
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Thursday, January 4th, 2018 AT 9:10 AM
Tiny
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It's 5 degrees outside with a wind chill of 15 below this weekend is going to be in the high twenties going to remove the starter take it back and exchange it for a different one
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Thursday, January 4th, 2018 AT 9:15 AM
Tiny
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Ok.
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Thursday, January 4th, 2018 AT 10:22 AM
Tiny
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I remove the new starter that I installed took it back to the store had them give me a different star actually one that was cheaper installed it and lo and behold the car started and ran they even tested my old starter and said it was bad and they tested the new starter to show me it was good and it was bad also all this because some doofus behind the counter gave me a bad starter
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Wednesday, January 10th, 2018 AT 1:06 PM
Tiny
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Glad to hear it's fixed.
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Wednesday, January 10th, 2018 AT 1:49 PM

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