2003 grand am won't start

[LizziSu26]

This car started fine, I parked it and then it wouldn't start again. The battery is fine even replaced it to be sure. Turn the key and only a faint humming noise it heard. Brother in law can make it turn over with a screwdriver in the starter but it Won't start. Please help.

[GTP Dad]

Welcome to AF!!

There are many possibilities as to why your car won't start. First if it will not turn over unless you use a screwdriver then there is an issue in the ignition circuit. It could be a relay or it could be in the battery, hard to tell. The faint hum you hear is probably the fuel pump coming on.

The first thing to check are the connections from the battery to the engine. Pull both the positive and negative and clean them. Then check the main ground to the engine. It is usually located in the area where the transmission is mounted to the engine. If that fails to get it to turn over then you may want to try jumping the car from another one. This will insure you have adequate power to everything. Even though it turns over with a screwdriver is no guarantee that there is enough voltage to start the car.

If it still doesn't start you will need to look at the ignition system and the fuel system. One way to check the ignition system is to spray some starting fluid into the throttle body. If the car starts then the problem is in the fuel system, if not the ignition system is probably the issue.

While there are a host of other items to check you need to start with the above and work from there. Of course you could have it towed to a garage and have them diagnose it for you. Good luck!!