Female with question- please help! Starter problem?

[AthleticAngel]

I have a 96 Cavalier. Recently I had to have a new ignition switch put it (old one wouldn't turn and caused problems). All was good until now- now when I get in my car- clutch in (yes it's a 5spd...my wannabe race car , turn key....nothing. All lights are on. But nothing. Now this isn't all the time... but twice or three times or more than enough? What do you suggest? Old battery? Ignition not set up right? I don't know! Please help if you can!

[C_Sephiroth]

First thing that comes to mind. Neutral Safety Switch Maybe some how it got disconected? or it is defective.

[jab018]

how many miles do you have on the car?
it sounds like your almost out of brushes. try to find a quality rebuilder. i've been rebuilding starters in my dad's shop since i was twelve.. and you won't find the same quality as oe in any of the chain store rebuilts. it could also be a bad connection on that new ignition switch.. did this start right after you had that repaired? ps. your battery is fine

[AthleticAngel]

My car has 118,000.00 miles on it. I'm the 2nd owner of it (got it from a friend who is a big car guy so it was well taken care of before me). I'm hoping it isn't the starter....isn't that a lil on the $$$ side? But if I'm good to my car, it'll be good to me :-), so I'll do what I have to do. Thanks :-)

[straightaxlecamaro]

need to know more about the car. what are it's symtoms. year engine size it's probly a 2.2

[Joe W]

A little more info would help,but at least you can catch it in gear.
A few thoughts-it could be the switch at the clutch pedal,especially if the headlights don't dim when you try to start it.
It could be the starter or battery if the headlights dim.

[rcwabbits]

Maybe this will help, but I'll be the first to admit that I know absoulutly nothing about cars...

I recently had the same problem with our 96 Cavalier. When trying to start it, it would just click and would take two or three turns of the key to get it going. It would do this once or twice every couple of weeks.

As it turned out, one of the smaller diameter cables going to the starter had gotten crimped exposing the wires. It wasn't until the cable completely broke and the car wouldn't start at all that I figured it out.

It's something simple to check anyway.

Good luck!

[a1supersport]

The first and the simplest thing for you to check is the neutral safety switch. It should be a button that the clutch pedal/arm has to touch...or the starter won't even click. Just look under the dash in the firewall area for the button, and see if the clutch pedal is making contact with it (you should be able to push the pedal with your hand). As a car gets older the pedal bushings wear out and the pedals start "rocking" side-to-side. And if the clutch pedal rocks enough, it's easy for it to not make contact with the button sometimes.

[bigdaveangell]

first of all check your battery. next I would get the starter tested. Try taping the starter with a hammer and then try starting.

[C_Sephiroth]

Dumb Question? but do you have the clutch pushed all the way down? Another question? When you Turn the key to try and start it do any of the lights dim? if not I am sticking with my original statement that it is probably the Neutral safty switch. Or perhaps you have a broken fuseable link (on of the wirers leading to the starter.

[bigdaveangell]

the power and the ground to the starter shouldnt have a fusible linke. It should be straight frome the battery with no fuse