my car won't start....?

Question

i have a 2006 grand prix and my car won't start... any answers why it won't??
all the lights turned on and when i tried to start it, it just made a clicking noise...
any answers that may help me out??? plz thx

Answer 1

That sounds like something my 1991 Dodge Colt did. Once it wouldn't start because a belt had snapped. Another time it wouldn't start because the distributor and diagnostic computer needed to be replaced.

Answer 2

Okay.. lets go through the process of elimination.. first.. since the starter requires more juice than the lights.. the battery connections have to be very good.. take an end wrench and loosen the nuts on the battery post connections one at a time.. first the black or negative.. take some sand paper and clean the post till it shines.. clean the inside of the connection.. put it back on an tighten it enough so that it is solidly in place.. next do the other one the same way.. then try to start the car.. if it starts you solved the problem.. if it does not.. then check the connections to the solenoid which is mounted on the inside of the fender well close to the battery.. the wires from the battery will connect to it and you should be able to identify it.. if the wires are loose then tighten them.. and try to start the car.. if it starts, well you know what was wrong.. now, it is possible that the battery is too low on juice.. get some jumper cables and jump off another car.. if it starts then the battery was to low on power.. have it checked at the parts store.. if it does not start by jumping it then check your postive connection on the starter which is located on the bottom of your engine.. trace the positive wire from the solenoid down to where it connects to the starter.. if it is loose.. tighten it.. then try to start the car.. if it clicks..and the battery has sufficient charge in it.. then the starter or the solenoid is bad.. you can check the solenoid by making a connection between the positive side and the negative side.. if it is not the solenoid.. it is the starter.. good luck

Answer 3

We purchase old cars all the time and battery issues always come up. Heres are 2 ideas that might help keep it starting & what it could be. One car wasn't driven in the winters & if left it to long without driving wouldn't start either. So every few days I would start it for a couple of minutes. If I waited longer then that I would need a jump. I would just try this if I was you. Another car wouldn't start & had to be jumped every morning. After buying 3 new batteries we found out the Antenna was the cause. Somehow draining the battery. We disconnected the antenna and haven't had a problem since. Probably not what is causing your problem but just a heads up that something small like that could be what's wrong.

Answer 4

It should be an electrical issue. Either the battery is too low to crank the engine or there is a bad connection somewhere. Make sure battery terminals are clean. Make sure cables are tight, including the battery cable that runs to the starter. If everything is good so far, then get a jump start and let the vehicle run. I always turn on my lights after I jump the vehicle. I don't know why, but I do. Drive it around( don't go too far just in case) Take it to an auto part store and have them test the battery. If it's ok, test the alternator. If everything checks out, there probably is a short somewhere.

If you have less than 36,000 miles on the vehicle, don't worry about it. It's covered under warranty.

Answer 5

Your lights don't draw the same amount of power as the starter. It is possible for your lights to shine, and the car just make a clicking sound. The sound you hear is from the starter solenoid (relay). It can mean that either you have a faulty solenoid, or low battery. Try recharging the battery first as it is cheaper. After you get started, try to find out why the battery is low. Many people forget and leave dome lights on, and in time that will draw the battery down.

If charging doesn't work, get to a shop. They will likely want to replace the solenoid and/or the whole starter assembly. Good luck.

Answer 6

Actually..its not a dead battery because if it was then your lights would not work.

It could be one of two things.
1) Starter...if its your starter a good way to try to start it is to take something like a hammer and tap it lightly the tapping helps to start it again...if its a standard then you put it in eutral and get some friends to help you push i and while your pushing it try to start it..

2) Altenator...this is easily checked.if you cant get it to a store by driving your car there try one o two things..take the altenatr off..it oly held on by about 3 screws..if you do that make sure to disconnect your battery..and bring it to the nearest auto store to be tested...Autozone usualy does this for free. Also if you dont want to do that then get new battery and put it in your car...if it startes up its your altenator..but the batter will die again in about 2 or 3 days. A new altenator cost about 50 dollars after the core charge..core charge is a charge they put onit until you bring your old altenator back. Cost would be about 70 without the old altenator. Its very simple to change.

Hope this helped..Goodluck!

Answer 7

just b/c the light come on don't mean that the battery is up enough to start it. try putting another battery in it to see if it will start. if it does and then does the same thing a day or 2 later you might need a new alternator. you could take it to a dealer and have them hook it up to a machine that will tell you what is wrong, it can be pricey BUT it is a lot cheaper that having someone mess up your car b/c they don't know that they are doing! ( hope this helps didn't have a lot of info to go on)

Answer 8

If, the Battery is good and cables clean, it may be the Starter. General Motors vehicles have the starter solenoid on the starter, if it click it getting voltage and it may not be letting the electricity go to the starter or the starter is bad. Check the Battery First!!!!!
Auto-Zone can check both, but, you have to remove the starter for them to check it. Have the battery checked first.

Answer 9

Sounds like the starter to me.

Answer 10

Try checking the starter or the starter solenoid.