I own a 1996 saturn sl2, this morning when i went to start is it but it only made a click noise when i turned the keys to ignite the engine. my lights, radio and other accessories continue to work. what could it be? a battery, alternator, or starter?? by the way I didnt leave any thing on the night before, its almost as if it just stopped working with no reason.
2007-12-05 09:40:01 · 4 answers · asked by M 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Appears the battery is okay. You should then check the Neutral Safety Switch. If you have an automatic transmission, try starting your car in Neutral instead of starting in Park. This may start your car. If that doesn't work, move the selector from Park to Neutral, then back to Park... and again try to start your car. This may be enough to have the car think you're in Park (allowing it to start). What may be happening is your car thinks it's in Drive or Reverse and will not allow you to start.
If you have a manual transmission, the switch is at the base of the clutch pedal... in which case you'd need to rewire the switch to have it work.
For further help, try www.saturnfans.com/forums and do a search for Neutral Safety Switch.
Good luck to you.
2007-12-06 08:38:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is certainly a problem in the starting system. Besides a bad battery, causes could include things as expensive as the alternator/voltage regulator/ other charging system stuff, or as simple and inexpensive as loose or dirty connections at the battery terminals or where the cable from the battery connects to the starter.
First, since your lights and stuff are coming on, try to start the car with the lights on. If they dim drastically, this suggests that there is not enough current flowing from the battery. You can have the battery tested to see if it is charged, and you can have it charged and then checked to see if it will hold that charge.
But the first thing I would do is disconnect, clean, and then reconnect all the connections involved in the battery-to-starter electrical chain.
2007-12-05 09:54:40 · answer #2 · answered by greyguy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely the battery.
Try starting the car in the afternoon when it's warmer. If it starts it's definitely the battery. Batteries are weaker when it's cold out.
If that doesn't work, try jumpstarting the car.
If either of these starts the car then it's definitely, the battery, and it's just weak so you'll still see things such as lights and radio work, but not strong enough to start the car.
If jump starting it doesn't work, then it's more likely to be the starter motor. The alternator typically doesn't have anything to do with starting the car.
2007-12-05 09:42:25 · answer #3 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
simple, when EVER you hear a "clicking noise" even if u see the lights come on bright or dim, ITS YOUR BATTERY. charge the battery.
hope this helps!
2007-12-05 10:08:17 · answer #4 · answered by † God Bless You † 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋