Vehicle wont start (bad solenoid?)?

Question

My vehicle wont start... thought it was a bad battery, went and got a new one and still wont start... tried to jump and no start -- everything has power when i turn key except engine... also there is NO clicking noise like you normally get when a battery is dead.

I'm thinking it's the starter or solenoid... is the solenoid what usually makes the clicking noise?? Apparently there is some way to troubleshoot it by placing a screwdriver across the solenoid posts... what will that tell me?? Any help is mucho appreciato!!!

96 chevy v6 4.3

Answer 1

i own a repair shop,and yes you can jump across the post to see if that makes it start,,and if it does it probably is the solenoid,,i got a 95 model ,and they do give problems once in a while,,but this is how you test them,,jump from the little post to the big one ,and see if it turns over,and if so ,id say you found your problem with it,,good luck,i hope this help,s.,,just be care full when you do this,and don't get your hand hung up in that area,,good luck i hope this helps,,have a good x-mas.

Answer 2

How To Check Starter Solenoid

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

By jumping across the starter solenoid it will tell you if the problem is the starter itself or a problem on the control side of the starting circuit. If you short it out and it starts then you know your starter is OK. Then you need to check for battery voltage at the starter battery post and then check for battery voltage at the control wire (small) at the starter while trying to crank over. If there is battery voltage here then you need to dive a little deeper into it and it could be something as simple as a fuse, or it could be a ignition switch, or a neutral safety switch, etc... If you check the basics and can't find the problem you might want to look at getting someone to look at it for you. If you don't know what you are doing electrical diagnostics can be very confusing especially with the increase in computer controlled items.
Hope this helps, good luck

Answer 5

If it's not clicking, I'm betting it's the neutral safety switch, or maybe there is a fuse for that circuit but not sure about that.

Could be the solenoid or ignition switch. There should be one samll wire going to the starter. If it has 12V on it when the key is turned to the start position, then the starter is bad.

Answer 6

It could be the neutral switch on the shifter.
For God's sake, don't take the starter off to be tested. These guys are morons. Someone with a voltmeter can tell you exactly what's wrong in two minutes by checking to see if the 12V is getting to the solenoid and back out to the starter.

Answer 7

Two things that come to mind; 1) insure that the car is *securely* blocked incase it tries to start and move, especially in the case of stick shift (which you didn't mention) but even automatic because if the shifter is in any gear and you use the screw driver / jumper wire trick on the solenoid/starter you have circomvented the park/neutral safety switch and if it starts, it will want to go. 2) I'd check the shifter safety switch (aka, neutral safety switch).

Answer 8

GM starter solenoid is incorporated with the starter and is difficult to acess to test.

Ford uses a seperate solenoid for the purpouse you mention.

If it won't start in "park" , try "neutral".

If that doesn't work, check you fuses.

If they are good, then you need to remove your starter and have it tested.

Answer 9

Just take tour starter off and go to your local parts store Advance auto or something they will test it for free....starter ot solenoid regardles you have to have the starter off to replace and most of the time the starter comes with the solenoid and is in most cases just a few bucks more than getting the solenoid,and you get a warranty..............Good luck

Answer 10

before you go buying a starter,check to see if the cable ends are clean and tight.yes you could try using a screwdriver,by jumping across the starter posts.if that doesnt work,then you probably have to buy a starter(or a solenoid)