I have a 2004 pontiac aztek with just over 140k miles. It wouldn't start the other day, when i would turn the key it was a single click and that was it. So i replaced the battery. All was fine the rest of the day, until the next day when i was getting ready to go to the bank and went to start the car and it did it again. I had to try a couple different times before it would start, and each time it would single click and that was all. It also happened again tonight. My boyfriend was on his way to the store and he was taking the aztek. He went to start it and it clicked a single click and nothing. He tried several times. I went out, and pressed down on the gas petal a couple of times and tried to turn the key again, and it started up. I've since came to work, and i have went out every couple of hours to check if it will still start, and it has. I do not know what this issue may be. If it may be a starter, or something else? Also, if it IS possibly a starter, would buying a used starter be ok, or should i fork over the cash for a new one?. Thank you in advance to all who respond. Katie
This procedure usually works:
·Check the battery cable connections:
Make sure the negative cable makes a good ground connection at the battery and (preferably) at the engine. Make sure the positive cable, makes a good connection at the battery and at the starter.
·Check the battery the simple way, like this:
Turn on the headlights, then try to start the car.If the headlights do not dim or go out, then the battery is likely good enough to start the car.
·Check the starter and solenoid:
If the wiring looks ok, then look at the starter solenoid for a good connection, and proper voltage at the starter(10 volts minimum while cranking).
If the starter spins and no crank, the problem is most likely the Solenoid's pinion gear is stuck.
Have someone hit (not too hard) the starter while you try to start the car. This usually works by dislodging a stuck pinion gear.
·Make a simple test of the alternator:
If you can, somehow get the engine running, measure the voltage at the battery. It should be at least 13.6 volts to properly charge the battery.
If it comes to having to buy a starter, I'd recommend a new starter over a used one.
As for the *click* then nothing that's been happening... if the battery is bad, you would hear a *tick-tick-tick-tick-tick* sound. That's the starter solenoid magnetizing and hitting the starter connection. If you hear just one single *click*, I'm guessing you either have a bad starter or a bad connection.
SOURCE: 2004 pontiac grand am wont start
yes the gauges should go up and down they are selftesting your starting problem could be starter related they were having problems with those, also try turning ignition to the on position for 3 seconds before trying to start,also gm has a tsb for hard start issues
SOURCE: 2001 pontiac sunfire wont start
I have had the exact same problem. There is an ignition lock that probably went off. There is a fuse box under the hood. The fuse that says ignition on it pull it out and put it back in. This should reset the ignition lock. Its a safety feature because the car thinks that someone was trying to tamper with it.
SOURCE: 2000 Pontiac Sunfire wont start
Its likely that you have either a bad ignition switch or a bad neutral safety switch (if stickshift, clutch switch) Try starting in neutral...if it starts, change neutral switch (jump across clutch switch, check starting in neutral with your foot on the brake) Ignition switch is on top of steering column under dash.
SOURCE: car wont start...sometimes
Sounds like a bad starter solenoid, usually cheapest and easiest to replace the starter and solenoid as a unit. It is always best to check for power between the solenoid and the starter with a test light, if the solenoid clicks but the test light doesn't light up you have found the problem in the solenoid.
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