96 Grand Am 3.1 v6 won't turn over. Battery is new and lights come on.?

Question

Once in a while the starter will crank and the car starts up immediately, but I'll shut it off, and then it may not turn over again for several attempts (days).

Answer 1

Contacts in starter are going bad. Best way to fix it is to replace the starter. If you can't do that carry a hammering apperatice and tap on the starter when it doesn't start. That will work for awhile until the contacts are totally gone.

Answer 2

I had a 96 Grand Am, and although it was a 2.4, I had the same prob. I was scared to go anywhere because if I turned the car off, I didn't know if it was going to start again. I drove from Detroit to NC with it like this, and everytime I stopped for gas, i had to leave the car running because i didn't want to be stranded.

It was my starter.

Got it replaced and everything was fine. if you take it to a shop, be careful, because if you take it during one of those times when it feels like working, then they'll test the starter and think it's fine. I would definitely suggest testing/inspecting the wires first, but my guess would be that it's definitely the starter

Answer 3

Maybe it is the starter or possibly the wiring going to the starter. Start by disconnecting the battery hot side, then go to the starter and disconnect that wire. Take a wire brush and clean the connections very well on both the wire and the starter. Reconnect that - now wire brush the battery and battery wire as well (do both). reconnect and see if that solves your problem. If not then the next thing is to check the starter itself.

Answer 4

I also believe it is your alt. but it could also be your ground wires might have a bad connection and not completing a full circuit.

Answer 5

Just a guess, really, but could it be the alternator?