2000 bonneville wont start

liquidinsanity · 03-09-2007, 12:46 PM

My car started up fine this morning when i took my son to school, i then drove to work, and it was acting normal. I was getting ready to leave for an appointment and went out to my car to start it and nothing.

The car will not turn over, no clicking or whining. All the interior lights, the radio, and the door chiming still work, so it cant be the battery i wouldnt think. I tried jumping it and it didnt do anything. So it must not be the battery. Im thinking that it could be the starter, but isnt there some sort of indication that the starter is going out? Either that or a ground has gone bad. Not sure, please help. Any tips or ideas as to what could be wrong would be greatly appreciated.

Mickey#1 · 03-09-2007, 03:50 PM

Usually the starter has a separate cable so it's possible for the starter not to have power while everything else works. Disconnect the battery cables & check for corrosion. Pay close attention to the area where the two positive cables make contact. How long does the security light stay on when the key is turned to the run position?

liquidinsanity · 03-09-2007, 04:17 PM

the battery terminals are very clean and have no sign of corrosion. Could it possibly be the solenoid? Im not sure about the length of time that the security light stays on, the car is at my wife's place of work so i am unable to check right now.

Bassasasin · 03-09-2007, 05:03 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Some starters will start growling before they quit.
That's a particular kind of wear out symptom is where the bushings bearings go out and the armature bearings on the ends is allowed to wobble on its axis and make it inefficient.

Depending on the symptoms you can hear from the starter area determines the path to take.

NO STARTER CLICK.
The small wire to the starter may not be activating the solenoid, which may trace back to a starter relay or even a ignition switch or as MIckey#1 is questioning, security issue.

Yes Starter Clicks.
The solenoid points may be burned up and not passing the amps from the large wire from the battery.
The large wire to the starter may be loose and not passing the huge amperage from the battery giving it the power to turn.

Good Luck

Bassasasin · 03-09-2007, 05:07 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Some starters will start growling before they quit.
That's a particular kind of wear out symptom is where the bushings bearings go out and the armature bearings on the ends is allowed to wobble on its axis and make it inefficient.

Depending on the symptoms you can hear from the starter area determines the path to take.

NO STARTER CLICK. (yours)
The small wire to the starter may not be activating the solenoid, which may trace back to a starter relay or even a ignition switch or as MIckey#1 is questioning, security issue.

Yes Starter Clicks.
The solenoid points may be burned up and not passing the amps from the large wire from the battery.
The large wire to the starter may be loose and not passing the huge amperage from the battery giving it the power to turn.

Good Luck

liquidinsanity · 03-09-2007, 05:17 PM

how can the security light cause the car not to start? And if that is the problem how do i go about fixing it?

Mickey#1 · 03-09-2007, 05:28 PM

As Bass said the security system will disable the starter. The security light should go out after 3-5 seconds. If the security light is functioning properly then check for power at the small wire going to the starter solenoid. Should have twelve volts when the key is turned to the start position.

If the small wire has power then you have it narrowed down to the battery, battery cable/connection or the starter/solenoid.

If the small wire doesn't have power then you'll have it narrowed down to the security system, ignition switch, starter relay or park/neutral switch.

liquidinsanity · 03-09-2007, 05:38 PM

So if the security light doesnt go off, that is the problem. How do i go about fixing that?

Mickey#1 · 03-09-2007, 05:40 PM

Sometimes tapping on the starter while trying to start will get you going.

Mickey#1 · 03-09-2007, 05:42 PM

We posted at the same time that last post wasn't an answer to your question.

Mickey#1 · 03-11-2007, 12:46 PM

Did you find out anything?

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