99 cavy ignition

[m084]

When I bought my 1999 cavalier with 50 000 km it would sometimes not respond when you'd turn the key, and then putting it into neutral and letting it roll a bit would get it started right away. After a while the problem started getting more frequent, and then it started making a grinding noise occasionally when it started. Every once in while it wouldn't start even in neutral, so I started hitting the starter with my ice scraper and turning the key and that would start it. It's been like that for a while and now when I go to start it, it makes a clicking noise like the battery is dead, the lights dim and the only way to start it is with a jump.

I've heard replacing the ignition switch on 99 cavaliers can sometimes fix a problem that they have but this doesn't sound like an ignition switch to me. Maybe the alternator? The battery gets drained after about 3 seconds of the car being off.

Thanks for any help.

[rustymac]

Replace your starter. If tapping it with something makes it go then there is an open inside it. Also replace your battery, it is no longer holding a charge. Chances are it is the original. A day over 5 years on a battery and you can consider yourself lucky.