Why '99 Cavalier Won't Start?

Question

When you turn the key it makes a rapid-clicking sound, like a woodpecker. All lights and radio work. Engine doesnt even try to turn. Just click-click-click.

Answer 1

Hey, it's simple its more than likely your starter and not your battery. The clicks are the sounds of a starter gone bad, sometimes you can give the starter a little tap with something and get it to start.

Answer 2

Try cleaning the battery terminals and having the battery tested and fully charged or try boosting it and if it starts up but then later it seems that a boost won't start it then probably it's the starter solenoid.

One thing is your vehicle is almost ten yrs old now and the electrical system especially it's charging system probably needs a good over haul.If you don't over haul the system what will occur is you'll cause the alternator to have to over work , the battery will be over drawn  and over worked and the starter will become stubborn or delayed starts.

That aged vehicle probably needs the electrical charging system's circuit over hauled and that could be part of the problem you're having now.You'll need to check, for corrusion or rust and maybe clean the system with a small file, fine sandpaper , small wire brushes the battery, starter, alternator posts, connections and connectors, plus the engine block ground, clean or replace any and all ground wires,plus use new screws etc in connecting the grounds ,and create new ground wires or ground connections when their too rusty etc to remove.If you want to spend the time it's well worth it to take out the relays , and fuses with the battery disconnected and clean their connectors, especially any fuses etc located under the hood. Plus clean , re-gap or change the spark plugs , clean the connectors  inside the spark plug wires with a flat head small screwdriver, just be careful not to scrape the wire itself inside the connectors and be sure to clean the ignition coil connectors too.Plus I highly recommend changing the gas filter especially if you've not been changing it on a yrly basis and changing the PVC valve or testing it also check the air filter too.

Don't even worry about any old grounds if you made up new ones as long as their not in the way and you've it done right.

Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way it might not be a bad idea to pick up a service manual  for that vehicle. I'd highly suspect the problem is related to bad or corroded or rusty connections especially if the parts you've been replacing are battery's , starters and alternators etc.

  

Answer 3

it requires more energy to start the car than to work the radio or lights so its possible that the battery needs charged you could use a charger that plugs into an outlet or use jumper cables which hook up to another car if

if that doesn't work you could try testing the alternate at an auto parts store to see if it works

Answer 4

Yea its most likely the battery even if the lights work it might need a jump try that.

Answer 5

Check your battery cables. Sometimes a shop will replace the bolt and it will be too long and puncture the battery.  The acid rots the bolt and this is what happens.

Answer 6

1. make sure your battery is charged and has good contact to the terminals.

if that is not the problem then it more than likely is the starter.