Car won’t start, just clicks!
I have 2011 Chevy Malibu, 3.6lt. It would just
stop starting sometimes. Just clicks. Has a
brand new battery that’s fully charged. So we
tested the starter, it tested bad so we
replaced it. Car then starts just fine, but within
a week the car stops starting, just clicks. We
pulled the new starter and being irritated,
didn’t even get it tested just warrantied it out.
Put the new starter on and the car and it still
won’t start! Just clicks! Before all hope was
lost before bed at midnight we go see if it will
start and wouldn’t you know, it starts right up!
The car worked fine for 2 weeks and then did
it again. I had done my google research at this
point and checked the starter relay; not it.
Had the damn thing towed home. In the
driveway, I am sitting in the car trying to start
it, I put it in Neutral while the car was on a hill.
(I’m guessing at what to do at this point) the
car rolls, I try to start it and IT STARTS! Go
another few weeks, the car won’t start again; I
wiggle the key and on the 20th attempt it
started. Within 2 days the car does the no
start 5 times and then finally had to get towed
home again!!!!! So, i’ve Installed a new ignition
switch and it still won’t start! The key doesn’t
feel like it’s sticking when you put it in, making
time think it’s not the coil; but I’m no
mechanic. I can’t keep dumping money and
guessing!!!! But I need my car!!! Please help,
thank you!!!!
Anyone have any suggestions?
Make sure battery has a full charge and connections all good. Intermittent issues can be a pain to track, you have to do testing when problem is ongoing. Note the diagram. See the starter relay, pull the relay, use a jumper wire between cavities 30 and 87, in the diagram. The starter motor should crank the engine? When you use the jumper, leave key in the on position, maybe you'll get lucky and the vehicle will start and run? If you try that, make sure transmission is in park or neutral and parking brake is set, vehicle can't move. By using the jumper your bypassing everything, just to see if starter motor will crank the engine. The bcm, the pcm, the ignition switch are all involved. I hate to see you throw parts at it trying to get lucky. You need the problem diagnosed, properly. By using the jumper, I described, it might accidently get the vehicle started, if your stranded, somewhere, but, the jumper isn't the fix.
Note the circuit description. good luck
My car is doing the exact same thing, did you get it figured out?
Car is doing the exact same thing , I changed the starter on my 2009 Malibu 3.6 v6 LTZ 6 days ago , starter Ed fine for a week now broke down again and won’t start only will click once when turnt over to start
Has anyone figured this out? I have the same problem! The weird this is my 2006 chevy malibu maxx ss will start 100% every time in the morning so i can go to work. It will 100 % start every evening so i can go home. But, if i go somewhere and shut it off, run into a store and then come back out , 70% of the time it won't start. Just clicks. I have to sit and wait and keep trying and wait to get lucky. I also have had my car towed home and wouldn't you know it, as soon as the tow truck left my kid tried to start it for the hell of it and bam, it started no problem. So weird. I don't have money to dump into it. I've replaced the starter twice.
https://youtu.be/QKAlnxkMykw If you have the patience, watch the whole video. It explains why the car will not crank during a hot start and why it will during a cold start.
this maybe an issue I'm thinking, my 2011 Malibu does the same thing , replaced the battery, starter, starter relay, etc. no luck. but I know that every Chevy Malibu is equipped with a security feature that will not allow your car to start, if this sensor thing sends a signal from the ignition to the starter relay it makes it think the ignition has been compromised and as a result it will not start
