Car has 45k miles - runs great, ATX. I pulled up at my buddies house today - when I turned off the ignition the radio did not stay on as normal. Since I knew that was weird I tried to start the car and the starter wouldn't even click. The interior lights are acting all weird and flicker a bit. The clock reset to 12:00.
The dash lights all function and the theft light doesn't remain on or anything. I tried starting it and leaving the key in the on position for 15 minutes or so and it still won't start.
Checked the battery and ground and they are clean as a whistle, nice and shiny with no corrosion. Doesn't seem to be a voltage related issue and I hear what I presume to be the fuel pump.
The clock had advanced 2 hours now and I don't know what the problem is.
Does this sound like a Passkey issue? I've never had an issue with it not starting and need to get my ass home!!!
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.
When you say you checked Battery and Ground was that at both ends of the cables?
I.e. the starter connection for the Positive and the Chassis ground point for the Negative.
Seems as though you have a bad connection somewhere on your main + and _ Battery connections.
Theft light does NOT remain ON , probably not theft related.
Interrior lights flicker-clock has reset/changed- from the bad connection.
Dash lights function, low current draw they can but high current draw.like the starter, should dim those lights. (If the starter circuit is drawing anything at all.
So does the starter attempt to turn, did you check both ends of the cables
Post back and someone will help
Alont
Alont, if it isnt cranking it isnt fuel or ignition related.
Is is either, Passlock, charging system related, or the starter has very high internal mechancical resistance and isnt able to turn the flex plate.
You need to put an amp clamp around the wire going from the battery to the starter, and see what the amprage draw is, if it is higher than say 300Amps, it is DEAD as a rock.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Yep, Rob, my bad.
Justin must have a bad connection somewhere on the main starter feeds, it obviously worked to get him where he is and failed by the time he got there
Alont
Thanks for all the replies guys - about to head back over my buddies and see what we can find. Last night we only checked the terminals on the battery - I'll check the starter connection as well as the ground wire to chasis just to be sure.
Two other things worth mentioning - I believe during one attempt to start the car the last night the odometer changed and displayed "L E" - but that only happened once (I could be wrong about which letters displayed - but it was definitely two letters spread out across where the mileage normally is). Any significance there?
The other thing - after letting it sit for 3 hours or so it seemed that the starter (or something) may have clicked once on consecutive attempts to start the car.
Sutdawg = Justin Sutton FYI
Unsuccessfull getting it started today before the rain.
The battery connections and grounds all look good and clean with tight connections.
Checked voltage - 12.5 volts - no issues there. Lights work, brake lights work, turn signals work, radio works, gauges illuminate. 1/4 tank of gas
Checked all underhood fuses and a bunch of the ones on the interior.
Symptoms - horn doesn't always sound - sometimes it's barely audible and weak sometimes it sounds normal.
putting the windows up and down made the dash check lights dim.
starter clicks a few times or just once - no smell of fuel though
starter relay sounds like it clicks
radio works but when it's on it picks up noise from the car - IE sounds like a bad ground somewhere
Is there anyway to measure the relays with a DMM to make sure they are okay (or am I drifting off track there?).
I could always just call AAA and have it towed and fixed under warranty - but it would be nice to figure out what's wrong. Thanks a ton guys.
Is there anyway to measure the relays with a DMM to make sure they are okay (or am I drifting off track there?).
Yes, its called resistance
Anyways seriously find a way to measure starter current draw, find someone who has an amp clamp
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Thanks - however I don't have access to an amp clamp at the moment.
Thanks, but what resitance should the relays show when measured?
for @!#$s and giggles why dont you try jumpstarting it??? it does sound like a bad battery to me. same thing happend to me. but it was a loose connection. and that shorted the battery out.
Funny that you mention that - we DID just try to jumpstart it and what do you know it worked and then came back inside and saw your reccomendation (but feel free to take credit anyways!) Jeez, can't believe I ruled out the battery since it measured 12.5 volts. Wonder why it keeled over like that.
By the way, which connection did you have an issue with so I can check it out. Thanks again for everyone's replies and help!
The jump and 30 minutes of driving was enough to get me home but not enough to start it again
Gonna take the day off from work and take it to the dealership tomorrow - I'll let you know if they find anything.
You may have 12.5 volts offload/light load but if you measure the voltage whilst the starter is engaged (while cranking) and it drops below 9 volts the battery is either bad or needs a good bench charge.
Batteries do short out internally or battery terminals fail, as discussed in this forum.
An alternator that is partially charging can also result in a bad battery, batteries do not like being undercharged for long.
Having said all that, glad you got it going and thanks for posting the result
Alont
Thanks again for the info, learned something new about voltage, batteries and charging. I'll post an updated when the problem is found and fixed
