I was doing some routine maintenance on my car, had it idling, shut off my motor, as I walked around under the hood I heard a faint sizzle like noise (not sure what it could be?) and ever since then, when I put the key in the ignition to crank it just goes CLICK. The starter is almost BRAND NEW and I have not messed with anything on the car after the last time it cranked. The only thing I can think of was I had sprayed some simple green on the firewall and washed it off with some water, but thats why I had the car idling (to burn off any water that may have sprayed around). There was no water on any of the electrical connections to my knowledge.

I have checked all the fuses, the grounds (tranny & valve cover) as well as tried another starter. Still no dice :\ I know the battery is OK because i turn the key in the ignition and my stereo comes on, as well as fans / etc. Even the battery is only a few months old.

What in the world could have happened here!??!


Modified by jaysonx at 4:35 PM 9/1/2003

 

have you tried push starting it?
sounds like your new starter took a crap

 

I tried 3 different starters, the one installed, my old one (had a bad spot but would crank) and just hooked up a plain D series one (didnt hook it to tranny) and tried cranking, didnt move or anything.

any other ideas? what can go wrong that will stop the car from starting?

 

I dont know much about the actual electrical systems in newer cars, but I just had a similar prob w/ my VW beetle; is there a starter relay? If so, check all wires going to and from it, and check to make sure it's still good.

 

It could be the starter relay, starter itself or a weak battery(bad alternator). Try putting a wrench on the crank pulley and turn it over by hand a couple of full turns just to ease the engine up a bit. Then try to start the car to see if it moves.

If your battery is weak, you might need to hook up another one in parallel. Also, if your car is manual, try push start the car, usually work most of the times.

 

try hot-wiring it... just take a wire and connect it from the (+) battery to the starter... to where the smaller wire goes... or the signal wire... make sure ur getting power to the starter

 

Problem Fixed!

I took the starter to Advance Auto and had them test it (works fine) so my attention shifted to the ground wires. The car had been sitting all summer, and I live 4 blocks from the ocean. All the salt took its toll on the stock copper wires, so I replaced the Tranny Ground, Valve Cover Ground and Negative Battery Ground with new cables that I got from Advance. Hooked everything up and the car fired up no problem.

Thanks for everyones help!