Engine not cranking over?

Good morning,

Can you upload a video of the noise you are describing so I can hear what you hear? This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Please run down this guide and report back.

The knock sound is the Bendix engaging the flex plate and not tuning over the engine while using the key. if i manually engage the starter relay the starter will spin the engine no problem. A knock or clank is the sound of a starter Bendix coming out to meet the flex plate or flywheel and for a few resins not turning over the engine..

I would still like to hear it.

The Bendix is a one-way clutch for the end gear to spin the motor. If the starter spins free when cranking, then the starter is bad and needs to be replaced.

Roy

I am aware what a Bendix is, after some testing i found i had a bad ignition switch "electrical switch" not tumbler. would not hold the relay closed.
Gave this site a try... "techs" not understanding "Knock" or "Clank" really should not offer advice.

We understand it completely when we are given clear, correct information.

Roy

Hello,

If I can jump in hear. it sounds like the engine might be locked up. can I ask if the lights dim way down if you stay on the crank position? Will the engine turn over by hand? Please let me know.

Last month I went to advance auto to get a code read out when check engine light came on. The read out said that it was my camshaft position censor that needed to be replaced. I still drove the car for a while without having the camshaft censor put on. Recently, my car stopped working. I was driving and started to notice I was losing acceleration while I was still pressing on the gas, then my oil light came on. My car completely shut down, and when I tried to restart it I could hear my car sounding like it wanted to turn over but it would no start. I replaced the camshaft censor and the plug, It's still sounding like it wants to crank but doesn't. Can you give me an idea of what could be making my car not crank?

I would recommend that you start by checking fuel pump pressure and check to see if you have a good hot blue snapping spark at the plugs. If you want to make it easy, see if the engine starts for a few seconds if you use starting fluid. It you try that, let me know the results.

My car has ran perfectly for about six months then one day it just would not start. will not crank, will not start. I charged the battery that did not work. replace the battery that did not work. we noticed that the relay switch under the steering column vibrates when we try to start it. could this be the problem and it needs to be replaced? please let me know.

Hello,

It sounds like you have a starter that is out. Here is a guide to help you check it out. Look toward the bottom of this guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-engine-will-not-crank-over

If the starter is getting power with the key in the crank position is it bad. Here is a guide to let you know what you are in for when doing the job:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

Here is a diagram (below) on what it will be like on your car.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

I tried jump starting it, but it did not work. The only light that shows up on my dashboard is the oil light. I tried jump starting it, but nothing. Also, when i pull the key back to start I get a beeping noise.

Do the head lights work and are they full brightness?

Here is a guide that will help you load test the battery using the car:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Here is a guide that will help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers

Yes, they work and at full brightness the battery is okay.

What are the symptoms when you try to crank the engine? Do you hear a single rather loud clunk each time you turn the ignition switch to "crank"? If so, there is an easy fix for that.

If you do not hear that clunk, can you hear if the starter relay is clicking in the under-hood fuse box? That one can be a little tricky because there are other relays that will also be clicking. What happens to the brightness of the headlights or dome light when you try to crank the engine? Do they stay bright, go out completely, or get dim?

When I turn the ignition switch to crank the engine nothing happens it stays quite and I do not hear any sound coming from anywhere. I tried changing the fuses for the ignition switch, but it is still the same. I put the lights on and cranked the engine but the lights were unaffected.

The starter circuit can be split into three smaller circuits for troubleshooting. There are a couple of different ways of going about this depending on whether you have a voltmeter or test light and know how to use them. As an alternative, to narrow it down, you can remove the starter relay to bypass it with a jumper wire, or you can pop the cover off, reinstall it that way, hen squeeze the contact to see if the engine will crank. If it does, we will know two of the three circuits are working and the battery is good.

It is sounding more like you have a bad starter motor more and more.

Here are some guides that will help you and a wiring diagram below:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

See where you are losing power.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

You will need to jack the car up safely as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/jack-up-and-lift-your-car-safely

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers

I tried doing what you told me and you were right the starter motor has bad. I found a good rebuild on Amazon for $66.00.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y86LRM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=2carprcom-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B007Y86LRM&linkId=5446dd71597609f8fc19aab0025fb074

Thanks again, you guys rock!

You can check the fuses check the smaller red battery cable where it bolts to the under-hood fuse box. Be sure it is clean and tight. That is a common place to find a problem. Next, follow the smaller black negative battery cable to where it bolts to the body sheet metal and be sure that one is clean and tight.

If you do not identify a bad connection, you will need a test light. A digital voltmeter will work too, but in this type of circuit the test light can be more accurate. Turn on the headlights so some current is leaving the battery. That will help make a bad connection show up. Now start with the test light's clip lead right on the negative battery terminal. If they still have the battery behind the left front tire like they did in the 1990's, just use the jump-start terminal under the hood. Place the test light's probe on the positive battery terminal, or the jump-start terminal by the left strut tower. The light should be bright. If it is not, work back to the battery to find the broken connection.

If the test light is bright, move the clip lead to the engine block or head. Next, move the probe down to the starter and check on the larger bolt-on terminal. The light must still be bright.

If you are doing this with a voltmeter, you want to find full battery voltage, (12.6 volts), all the way to the starter. If you find around 12.0 volts, the battery is discharged. If you find closer to 11 volts or less, the battery has a shorted cell and there's no way to know what will work and what wont until it is replaced.

I have a 2003 Dodge Stratus that I could not jump start. I thought it was the starter, but turned out to be the twenty amp fuse that powers the starter.

Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Cheers

So my car starts if it is jumped . But will not without one. It will just make a clicking sound and eventually the battery drains out . Sometimes when I jump start the battery and turn off the car it will start . But then eventually the battery dies when I turn off the car . So is it just the battery that is bad or also something else. I do not have a check engine light on either so i do not know.

Could be just a bad battery. Jump start it and take it to one of the parts stores that tests/replaces batteries. If it tests bad install a good one and then have the charging system load tested to be sure it was only a bad battery.

It does sound like the battery is failing. Remove the battery and have it tested. Most parts stores will charge and test the battery for you at no charge. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Engine Performance problem
2004 Dodge Stratus 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

Car wont start am gettting gas and checked battery and alt. and they are good could it be a fuse or what.

Did it crank but would not "catch", or what did you hear? How did you check the battery and alternator when the engine would not start?

I took battery and alt to AutoZone. They tested and said it was good. It would crank but would not catch at all. It is like if it is out of gas.

Next is to check if you are getting fuel at the fuel rail, and to make sure that you have spark at the plug wires.

I have the car listed above that will not crank or start. it is not the 20 amp fuse in the relay box. the car has full power but when you turn the key nothing happens. the car will not even turn over.

Check that you have twelve volts at the small terminal on the starter when you turn the key. if yes, the starter will be faulty. if no, you will have to test the ignition switch and the transmission range switch. this is the switch on the transmission that stops the car starting in gear.

I was driving not to long ago I got about 9 blocks away from home and my radio flickered, and shortly after my car died, my battery and alternator both are new so I have no clue where to begin to look. When I got the car back to my house and tried to turn it on, my lights work, my radio works, but it wont turn over at all.

First measure the battery voltage. It should be 12.6 volts if it is fully charged. If it is closer to 12.2 volts it is okay but discharged. Charge it, then measure the voltage again while the engine is running. It should be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is low we will have to diagnose the charging system.

If the battery is fully charged but the starter still will not crank the engine, first observe whether you hear a rather loud clunk from the starter each time the ignition switch is turned to "crank". If you do, suspect worn contacts in the starter solenoid. If not, one suspect is the neutral safety switch which is part of the range sensor.

With the flickering you described, you might want to look at where the two smaller battery wires connect and be sure those connections are clean and tight. The negative wire bolts to the body. The positive wire bolts to the under-hood fuse box.

Hi I have a 2004 Dodge Stratus se and it won't crank or start only Battery is good the only light that comes on is the oil light does anyone know what could be the issue??

Check items in picture. Then try resetting security system.

My car won't turnover at all. No sound no nothing. The radio and windshield won't work but all other electrical does. I've checked all fuses and still nothing. I'm open to any suggestions.

I would make sure the battery has a full charge and the connections are good. Any fuses you check, you need to use a test light, see if the fuse circuit is hot.

Do you think the security system might be causing an issue? Are the circuits at the starter relay okay? Any testing at the relay, make sure the transmission is in park or neutral and the e-brake is set.

Car will not start. Tried jump starting. Only get a click. What should we try?

No crank at all/nothing when key is engage to starting position.

Could be a blown fusible link, the starter, starter relay, clutch switch/park and neutral switch/transmission position switch and ignition switch assuming the battery condition and connections are good.

2004 dodge stratus engine lost power while driving, check engine light came on, car will not crank, what is wrong?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Have the computer scanned for code/s-you have a problem within the engine management system that caused the CEL to turn on. This is your starting point of diagnosis, finding out what is going on.

I try to start my car but nothing. All the lights work, but the radio does not work and the car does not start.