06 3.9 Starting Issues

[Daffej]

I have a 06 3.9L Impala LTZ that is having some starting/electrical issues. I haven't driven it in a few months so I got a new battery for it. It started right up and ran great for 2 days. The 3rd morning it will not start and I just get a single click when I turn the key.

The dash lights and radio also will not turn off with the key out of the ignition and opening the doors doesn't turn them off either. I had the new battery checked and it still has good charge so it's not a dead battery from the radio lights being on.

It has a brand new battery, 1 year old alternator and I have checked connections to almost everything. Battery, starter, engine ground, fuses & relays.

Any suggestions or advise would be greatly appreciated.

[rhandwor]

I would use a test light and check for power to the solenoid when trying to start. This is the small wire.

[Daffej]

It does have power. I also checked the wire for loose connection and biased it using jumper cables to test the wire itself.

[rhandwor]

Run the jumper cable from the positive cable to the big wire on the starter and see if it will turn over.

[Daffej]

No luck. It clicks real hard but not turning over.

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by Daffej

No luck. It clicks real hard but not turning over.

I would pull the starter and check if the bendix works and it turns over out of the vehicle. You have a good chance it's bad. Auto Zone or Advanced may check if free for you.

[Daffej]

Will do. Also borrowed a friends gm code scanner if the starter ends up being ok.

Thanks