okay guys... here's a good one....
So I am leaving for work early this morning... only to find that my car won't turn over...

First thought - dead battery.... when I turn the ignition, the cluster lights turn on for a moment, then go dead.

So I check voltages - 12.5vdc in the off state. ignition turned on, 12.3vdc
Starter does not even turn over, or click for that matter.

So I check connections - no corrosion, good connections to/from alternator and battery, starter gets voltage.

Still will not start... so I pull the battery, and reconnect it, still does not start.

So I try to start in neutral, nothing, try again in park, nothing.

Only other thought... anti-theft system gone hay-wire? is there a starter disable system, or is it ignition disable?

Any more ideas? currently I am work, so I can't check anything right now... but I left the battery and alternator disconnected, in hopes that the 8 hours without any power might clear the computer...

I am really hoping that I connect everything back tonight, and it fires right up.

BTW it was running without incident the day before.

well dude, Try getting jump statrted to see if that works, If not, my guess would be youre start soliode is more likely no good.

done.... tried to jump start it this morning, and tried to run it off of another known good battery... neither worked.

Starter solinoid? guess I wonder how in the world that would go bad in a night....


Fortunatly I got the motorcycle out and dewinterized last weekend, else I would not be at work today!

Did you check the resistance of the starter relay?



- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Well..... I had my brother go over after school (dang high school-er with no life!)

he hooked everything back up, but had no key to try to start it.... got home after work today, and the dang car fired right up like nothing ever happened....

Could something have f-ed the compute up temporarily?

The Chosen One wrote:Well..... I had my brother go over after school (dang high school-er with no life!)

he hooked everything back up, but had no key to try to start it.... got home after work today, and the dang car fired right up like nothing ever happened....

Could something have f-ed the compute up temporarily?

My last car did that. Once time I come out, no start, no crank. I had it towed to a shop, where it started up fine for them. I sold the thing three days later because 5 days eariler I sunk $825 in other repairs to it. Was a Ford Contour with only 78,000 miles.




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Well I did a search and this is exactly what happened to my car yesterday! I wanted to see if anyone else had some info on this since Rob S. (the person who started this thread) did not really find a solution since his car majically started!

Well mine majically started as well!! Here's the story...

Left yesterday morning to drive up to a car show, about 85 miles or so. Decent weather, maybe mid to high 60s all the way, humid and everything on the car was good. (2002 Ecotec, Cavy. 5-speed) Very well maintained, very well!!! I have every record from the day I bought it for maintenence!!

Sat for about 5 hours and ran the car a few times to show the system off and did a db drag as well, but no racing or anything! Left the show about 4pm and the temps were up to high 70s, low 80s.

Car ran about 10 - 15 degrees warmer on the way home than it did on the way up due to it being warmer and running the AC I'm sure.

So, I get back to my town, about an hours drive, little less, and I stop at a gas station to get some water and when I come back out to start the car, nothing!

When I say nothing, I mean nothing. Turn the key over and it's like the clutch is not even pushed in. No click from the starter, engine doesn't try to turn over, nothing! Check my volt gauge and it's almost 13! I have full aux power to run anything, system, AC, lights, etc, etc. I'm thinking maybe I overcharged the system? Is that possible? We were drving about 100 - 105 for almost an hour (85 miles or so, more like 45 - 50 min.) I also have the GM charger, so is the alt. moving too fast now?

Anyways, wife drives out with the laptop and my scanner to see if there is anything there...CEL, anything. Nothing! Not one code, pending code, zippo!

Lost now what it could be as I have check the battery terminals, starter wires, leads, wires, etc, etc, etc. I figure why not try it again and BAM! It starts! WTF?

Anyone have a clue what did this?


Eh...old man with a Corvette now...it was bound to happen sooner rather than later right?

I know what it is.

I found out through trial and error.

About a week ago, my car had big problems not starting. Batt was fine ,alt was fine, but the starter just would work. So i took the starter off and still had the wires hooked up, and had a buddy try and start the car. Starter still didnt work, even tried the hammer/driver trick. no go.

I replaced my starter with one off a 1999 chevy Venture V6. Yes it is a perfect swap if you want a high torque starter, and only cost about $40 from the junkyard. After reinstalling the newer starter, reconnecting the batt, it still didnt work. Turns out its the damn ground on the relay. I found out by tracing the wires to where ever they go. Got up to the relay, and the dealership has it grounded with a plastic trim clip on the painted surface of where it was mounted. I fixed the ground, and now works better then ever.

My first Sunfire did that. Went to go start the car to go to work (it was my first day at a new job)... nothing. I mean nothing at all.

Went out 2 hours later... fired right up, never had a problem with it after that. Needless to say I lost the job because I couldn't make my first day... but I never found out what could cause that either.