At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
if your saying your starter stays engaged after starting engine till you cycle thru the gears , your starter needs serviced , most likely a worn bendix pivot bushing
two options 4 repair
1= replace starter
2= remove starter and have it professionally rebuilt then reinstall it
Does the starter engage again when you go back to park ?
Shifting from park to drive would cut the circuit from the key switch to the starter. The neutral safety switch prevents you from cranking the engine in drive or reverse.
I would say the key switch is not turning off power to the starter when you go from start to run.
Does it have an automatic transmission?? If so, mess with gear shift.. Take it out of Park.... then put it back in Park. Try putting it in Neutral and see if it'll start there. Does it have a solenoid on the starter?? or does it have a starter relay on the fender-well?? If it has a relay on the fender-well, I would be suspicious of it and its connections. You should be able to determine all of this with a tester. Have someone turn and hold the ignition switch in the starting position.. Use your tester to determine where you are or are not getting current. Don't forget to make sure your grounding is okay.. If none of this helps, I would start suspicioning the ignition switch. You seem to be positive that the starter is okay.... Did you remove it to have it tested?? Did you put a new starter in it?? Could you have hooked up the wires correctly??
You have to locate where the park ignition switch is located. Some are on the transmission and some are in the column under the dash. It probably got moved.
Let's keep things simple to start with... Check the battery that it has sufficient charge. (I did say to keep it simple). Ensure the gear selector is in Park or Neutral if equipped with an automatic trans, or depress the clutch pedal if equipped with a manual trans.
Lastly, in keeping things simple... check all the fuses and fuse links (special fusible wire) that power is available to your vehicle's electrical system.
With a test light, check the starter relay with the key in start position is energising the starter relay... bypass the starter relay if no power is present. if the starter operates, you now know the problem is located within the start control circuit (from the key switch through the starter relay to ground via a neutral safety switch (auto) or clutch switch (Manual).
finding the fault should be quick with a circuit diagram.
ASE mechanic.
A couple of different scenerios. first could be the ignition switch not suppling voltage to the starter. You might have good battery voltage at the starter,but not the trigger voltage from the ignition. thats the small wire on the starter. OR if i cranks a couple of times and then starts it might be a crank sensor for those engines are known for that sensor problem. keep me posted
There is a "Kill switch" on the shifter mechanism that prevents starting the engine unless the car is in PARK. This is a safety feature sp the car won't start and suddenly take off if it were in gear. This is usually a mechanical switch. I can'r say for sure where it is on a Cavalier. What I suggest you do is call a Cavalier dealer, ask for the Service Dwpt and ask one of the men where the gear shifter kill switch is located. I have found that most dealers are real good about helping in a situation like your. You are a potential future customer.
Hope this helps Good luck Liringh Ps Please leave a rating if appropriate. Thks
You culd be having more than one problem. First if you are having problem putting the car in park. The car may not actually be fully in park and therefore the neutral safety switch is active and telling to car you are in revers or in gear. If this is true then your car won't start for safety reasons. Try putting it in Neutral and see if it starts then. Ormay have a neutal safety switch that is bad. Can you hear the starter click when you turn the key to start?
×