Whats wrong with my 2002 Grand Am GT?

Question

I have a 2002 Grand Am GT. I got home from work this afternoon and the car was fine. I parked it and went inside. When I came back out latter to go to dinner all my lights and everything worked, however when I turn the key all I get is one click, it will not even try to turn over and I do not hear the strater clicking at all when the key is turned to try and start it. What do I need to check, the battery cables seem to be conected and there does not seem to be a lack of power in it (lights not dim locks work fine). I just replaced it a month ago. I am going to try and jump it just to be sure but need suggestions on what to look at next if this doesn't solve my problem. Please don't say buy a new car, not an option.

Thanks peeps, Keep the suggestions comming, Sounds like I need to double check everything with the starter. If you have other suggestions please let me know. I am going to check the starter in the morning, it's too late here for me to mess with right now.

Answer 1

see if you can locate the starter and lightly smack it with a hammer.it may be stuck if it works drive it and see if it does it again it might be a fluke.if it doesnt work then you need a new starter.to find your starter follow your positive cable away from the battery but i am pretty sure it is up front.hope this helps also check your ecm fuse and see if you have a start fuse

Answer 2

Sometimes starters just hang up. Try tapping on the starter a few times with a small hammer. Also could be the solenoid. Bypass the solenoid with a screwdriver across the terminals. If it turns over, that's your problem. If you get a shower of sparks and still nothing, then you need a new starter.

Answer 3

Sounds just like a low or bad battery, but for the record, when you bought that new battery did you have the charging system checked. It could be that the alternator isnt cutting the mustard anymore. For instance it might be regulating the volts but its not putting out enough amps to keep the battery charged up.

Answer 4

An engine desires 4 issues to make it artwork a million- Air, verify the air clear out, make positive its sparkling and in no way damaged 2- gas, drain tank of previous petrol(it does bypass off) upload new gas, verify gas clear out(if equipped) replace(advised) 3- Spark, get rid of and sparkling the spark plugs, verify the relationship to the great of the plug itself, and make positive its no longer corroded 4- Timing, this comes to a call the precise time a spark is brought to the piston chamber, this can properly be checked by a service tech very without delay and quite if all the above is genuine, it would want to run no issues cheers

Answer 5

if you try to start and only get one click and your battery is fine as you say then your starter is probably going bad. you can smack it with a hammer but eventually if this is the problem you will need a new one or it wont start at all eventually

Answer 6

Check the alternator, if it's bad, the battery can't hold a charge and so it won't start but you can still turn on accessories for a little while.

Answer 7

your starter or silinoid(not correct spelling) one or the other is messed up or it might be in the "brain" somewhere. if it isn't one of the three u need to get it looked at. autozone will do a free starter test for you if they are near you

Answer 8

sounds like a bad starter solenoid. Just a guess.

Answer 9

It sounds like it could be your alternator. You can fix this yourself fairly easily. A new alternator should run you $40-60, much better than the $300-400 a mechanics shop would charge.

Answer 10

Loose connection at the cables or dirty cables.