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No crank no start after swapping engine?

Tiny
2010COBALT
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
Swapped motor out due to chain issues. Put different engine in hooked it all up have no start or even crank engine over. Fire at plugs fuel at fuel rail. Can jump it over to crank at the fuse box but injectors won't fire. Car will start on starting fluid but injectors won't fire.
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Saturday, December 29th, 2018 AT 3:13 PM

35 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Hello,

Is the security light flashing when you try to crank it over? Lets run the codes to see what comes up.

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

This guide can help as well:

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

and

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

Please run down these guides and report back.

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Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 11:25 AM
Tiny
HTHURMOND
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 97,000 MILES
After having the radio on with out the car running, when I try to start the car the engine try's to turn over then everything just starts clicking inside the car. The first time this happened 30 min later the car started back up.
I took the car to auto zone to have them test the battery, and it came back good so they checked the alternator and the starter. And everything checked out good.
My wife has the car today and had the radio on listen to it without the car running and again it won't start. She said it's just making a bunch of clicking sounds. I told her to try starting it again on her next break. But, what could be causing this? I have a 2009 chevy cobalt haven't had any problems with it till now with this. I am unsure about the engine info.

Thank you
Heather
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
This should be obvious. The radio is running the battery down. It also has the Body Computer cleverly built in so that is also on and drawing current as are all the other computers on the car. You can expect a good battery to still start the engine after playing the radio up to perhaps a half hour but even that might be pushing it.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TREK5500RIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 154,000 MILES
When it will not start there is no signal from the ECM to the starter relay.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Hello,

Can I ask if when you are trying to crank the engine over is the security light flashing?

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TOLBERTSHIRLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 77 MILES
The engine light is on, and the car stalls. Sometimes, the car would shut off when I am at the red light.
Now when I turn the key to start the car, I hear this click, click, click noise, and it will not start. Does my car need a tune up?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check battery condition including load test. Also check charging system. Then scan for codes. Auto parts can do all of this for free
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHUCKMONKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 70,000 MILES
I tried jumping at starter and still wont start. The starter sounds like it wants 2 work correct

It is acting like the motor is locked up. But when I was replacing the starter I tried moving the flywheel with a screw driver and I got it 2 move like a half inch each way. It like something is not letting the flywheel spin
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DJCL
  • MECHANIC
  • 767 POSTS
Your engine is locked. Have you checked the oil in it. It should spin all the way around. Remove the serp belt make shore nothing is sezed up.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHUCKMONKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Ok but I only had a small screw driver 2 turn it. Ok but if it will spin what else could it be?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DJCL
  • MECHANIC
  • 767 POSTS
Does the starter make a noise. When you turn the key. Put a socket on the crank shaft pulley and try to spin the engine by hand.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHUCKMONKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yeah the bendix is kickin out and the starter is hittin the flywheel but not turnin it. Someone said that there is a like a nutrel safty switch that will cause the tranny 2 lock up and not let the starter work what do you think?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DJCL
  • MECHANIC
  • 767 POSTS
That will not do that. Try to spin it by hand and get back to me
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IDIMENDOZA
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 189,000 MILES
Checks charging system popped and battery on safe mode. Then won't keep charge or take a jump start. There no charge at all. What could be the problem?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHUCKMONKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Ok well it looks like a pain in the ass to get on that 2 get the belt off and 2 spin it. I just checked 2 make sure there was oil and its milky so um guessin my head gasket shit the bed and it locked up. Sound right?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.

I'm a bit confused on what you mean by the charging system popped. Can you explain? Also, how have you checked for charging?

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DJCL
  • MECHANIC
  • 767 POSTS
Could be but try to spin the engin by hand first
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IDIMENDOZA
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
In the message window saying check charging system. I myself don't know how to check to much. What I do know is that the battery is dead when I open my door the light don't trunk on and when I turn the key nothing comes on nothing at all.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHUCKMONKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
No it wont turn over and I pulled the plugs and one of them is all smashed. And one is bent so now it goes 2 the shop thanks 4 your help
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome back:

No problem. What I need you to do is this. You will need to remove the battery and take it to a parts store to see if they can recharge it and check it for performance. If you take it to a nationally recognized parts store, most likely it will be done for free. However, before you remove the battery, check the battery terminals to make sure they are clean and tight.

If nothing at all works on the vehicle, either the battery is totally dead or you lose connection to the battery. First, here is a link that shows how to check the battery terminals and to clean them:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

If that doesn't help, we need to remove the battery and replace a battery:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

We need to start with this. Without being able to at least start the vehicle, we can't check the alternator. Also, the entire problem could be related to a battery connection issue or just a dead battery.

I would like to know if the lights and other things work when you try to jump start the vehicle.

Do this and let me know if I can help.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)

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