Follow along on a frustrating no start situation with a 2005 Saturn Ion with a 2.2L Ecotec engine. Step by step suspects are eliminated as we approach a surprising conclusion.
Car Won’t Start, Only Clicks, How to Troubleshoot and Get it Going GM 2.2L Ecotec
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Who knows could have been a bad ground somewhere that cleaned up when you reinstalled it. Good video thanks.
Having the same problem now (for the 50th time). Multiple mechanics can't figure it out.
I’m not getting 12 volts at the starters smaller wire . You thinking a bad ignition switch?
Sometimes tapping the starter case with a hammer will get the armature to move off a bad spot . Don't hit too hard because most newer cars have permanent magnets in the starter case and will crack with a beating . Can also tap on the solenoid , but only on the metal case . It may work better if a helper holds the key to the start position . That loud clunk may be the starter drive ( bendix ) fully engage , but does not spin do to a bad spot in the armature that drains all the current .
Good you fixed it . A fully charged battery will be 12.6 Volts , after the surface charge is removed . I would review the Voltage Drop test method . You may have been able to find where the electrical path was bad without removing the starter . A loss of current through high resistance on either the positive or negative side could be your problem . You probably disrupted the corrosion by removing all the connections , including the bolts that ground the starter . I had my Chevy Celebrity sit for several months without using . I charged the battery . Turn the key and nothing . I checked each connection and gave them a tug . It must have disturbed some minute corrosion . Then it started without further issues .
This happened to me recently. The battery is in good condition. Turns out, my trunk leaked and ground connection was rusty. Cleaned off the the ground and surface. Started right up.
Gee you've shown me I can take my starter off nothing be wrong with it put it back on and my car will start
Just had the same problem in my mothers 05 saturn ion. Turned the key and the dash lights came on but no start. So i took a screw driver and jumped the solenoid and it started remember key on when doing this. Also noticed that the starter wires were Corroded my guess is this is the problem. I will clean up the connections tomorrow.
Could there have corrosion at any of the connections? Did you notice the bat:starter connection was loose at all?
What if there’s no lights and everything is dead in your car? Like no lights or anything and nothing will unlock. No start or anything. What’s the problem with my car?
I am having the exact same problem on my car. Its a 2004 Saturn Ion sedan.
What do you recommend checking to fix this issue? It seemes to be a ground issue possibly?
I have checked all the ground cables under the hood, any other suggestions? My battery is a Interstate 3 yr old and fully charged and the starter is a two yr old Autozone. I had a spare starter sitting around and installed it and it does same thing. My car was working just fine and has never done this over the 9 yrs I have owned it.
I have the exact same problem and i did what you did which take out the starter and make sure flywheel is rotating or not and it did but car still doesnt crank up:( i did it on my own cuz i dont think mechanics wouldnt know whats the problem with the car. Do you have any other suggestions or solutions to this
I have crammed a big screwdriver in between the ground and Solenoid, bypassing they ignition (KEY OFF) to free up the stuck Starter Bendix.
When the Solenoid goes out completely, and it will, I've held it there (KEY ON) to start the car to and get home.
Wow cant help but to chuckle at some nonsense like that atleast it started
My guess is the flywheel gear and starter gear somehow became unmeshed. When you took starter out and replaced the gears meshed again. It’s weird but I’ve seen this before
I'll bet the reman starter solenoid is intermittent!
Wow . Gm quality is the mystery itself . No wonder the stupid problem happened