Can it be my starter, battery or alternator?

20

Asked by Whitney Dec 14, 2020 at 09:17 AM about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu LS FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2006 Chevy Malibu All lights come on when trying
to crank it makes a click sound. Is it the starter?
Battery is good alternator is good.

6 Answers

15

normally when you crank an engine and the starter "clicks" it has low power voltage. even tho you said the battery is good, try putting the car on a battery charger wait about 10 minutes and try again, or jump-start with another running vehicle. if that doesn't work you might have a bad starter solenoid.

15

normally when a starter "clicks" it has low battery voltage. even tho you said the battery is good try putting it on a battery charger for about 10 minutes, or jump-starting with another running vehicle. if that doesn't work and it still clicks, you have a bad starter solenoid.

15

normally when a starter "clicks" it has low battery voltage. even tho you said the battery is good try putting it on a battery charger for about 10 minutes, or jump-starting with another running vehicle. if that doesn't work and it still clicks, you have a bad starter solenoid.

15

normally when a starter "clicks" it has low battery voltage. even tho you said the battery is good try putting it on a battery charger for about 10 minutes, or jump-starting with another running vehicle. if that doesn't work and it still clicks, you have a bad starter solenoid.

15

normally when a starter "clicks" it has low battery voltage. even tho you said the battery is good try putting it on a battery charger for about 10 minutes, or jump-starting with another running vehicle. if that doesn't work and it still clicks, you have a bad starter solenoid.

27,650

Have you tried using a jump box or jumper cables to start? You can use a digital multimeter to do some basic testing. Meter leads across battery posts, everything off, the generic spec for a full charge is 12.6 volts, if much below that, put a charger on it. You can check voltage at generator bat terminal, engine running, generally I like to see as much over 13 volts as I can get at idle with loads turned on. If you think it's a starter problem, you can take starter off, lay it on the ground, hook up jumper cables properly from battery to starter motor, at the least, it should kick out the drive gear and spin. Of course that's a no load test. I wouldn't replace anything unless your testing points in that direction.

Your Answer:

Malibu

Looking for a Used Malibu in your area?

CarGurus has 1,090 nationwide Malibu listings starting at $1,495.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Gene Arnett
    Reputation
    4,610
  • #2
    T_S_T
    Reputation
    4,410
  • #3
    tenspeed
    Reputation
    4,150
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Chevrolet Impala
7 Great Deals out of 93 listings starting at $3,531
Used Toyota Camry
62 Great Deals out of 1,074 listings starting at $3,500
Used Honda Accord
56 Great Deals out of 991 listings starting at $2,000
Used Nissan Altima
32 Great Deals out of 759 listings starting at $1,999
Used Dodge Charger
39 Great Deals out of 727 listings starting at $5,995
Used Ford Fusion
18 Great Deals out of 436 listings starting at $2,595
Used Honda Civic
200 Great Deals out of 4,053 listings starting at $440
Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
222 Great Deals out of 5,872 listings starting at $2,975
Used Chevrolet Equinox
68 Great Deals out of 2,984 listings starting at $2,900
Used Hyundai Sonata
43 Great Deals out of 1,074 listings starting at $2,495
Used Toyota Corolla
146 Great Deals out of 2,444 listings starting at $3,900
Used Nissan Maxima
14 Great Deals out of 166 listings starting at $4,378
Used Hyundai Elantra
158 Great Deals out of 4,210 listings starting at $100

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.