2001 LS won't start- clicking but won't start

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earlet9

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Hey guys, I went out to start my car 2001 v6 LS today and as I turned the key, the ignition was cranking as if it were to start, but it would never turn over and actually start. I have tried jumping it (multiple times now), put a little gas in it (over 1/4 tank, but still put more), but still nothing. Everything works fine, all the lights come on in the car, headlights come on, but the engine will not start. My battery is probably about a year old. If you guys have any idea as to what I can do to try to fix it, or want more information about what I have tried, please respond. Thanks.
 
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his car doesnt have a message center. the car was fine until he parked it for a week on a hill. now he has this issue. he tried pushing it to level ground and putting gas in it just in case and they let it sit and charge with some jumper cables for awhile still no luck. i told him get the battery tested but he feels like it has voltage and im 4.5 hours away from him
 
Super-simple stuff: check connectors at battery, check voltage at battery while cranking.
Try jumping. If that works, then it's the battery.
However, sometimes a battery can be so jacked that jumping still doesn't work. So try a known-good battery from any car temporarily.
If that still isn't it, then it's probably the starter.
As Joe said, could be the wiring. Get under it (not easy in a parking lot w/o being able to get onto ramps.....) and check around the wires near the starter. Lots of heat under there, so things can get marginal.
 
im having the same issue with a 2000 v8 replace battery and starter rechecked all wires and no messages in the message center. Any other ideas??? someone said i should have more than one key. however its a used car i only have 1 key and the remote.
 
This is weird. I get a no start issue, and all of a sudden 10 other people get it too.
 
lilnae said:
im having the same issue with a 2000 v8 replace battery and starter rechecked all wires and no messages in the message center. Any other ideas??? someone said i should have more than one key. however its a used car i only have 1 key and the remote.
Click to expand...

What's your PATS light doing while it's not starting?
 
Ok, so I just got a new battery, hooked it up. and doing the same thing. The engine continues to crank, just turns over and turns over, but never starts running. Any ideas as to where to go from here...?
 
Well, you need 3 primary things for an internal combustion engine to run: air, fuel, and spark. Check your IAC valve. Check fuel pressure. Check spark. Then go from there.
 
earlet9 said:
Ok, so I just got a new battery, hooked it up. and doing the same thing. The engine continues to crank, just turns over and turns over, but never starts running. Any ideas as to where to go from here...?
Click to expand...

Okay, I'm confused. Your first post said that it just clicked and wouldn't turn over. Now you say that it's the same thing, turns over but won't start. These statements are in conflict. Which is it?

1. Would turn over before but wouldn't start.

2. Wouldn't turn over before, but it now will.

3. Still doesn't turn over.
 
pektel said:
This is weird. I get a no start issue, and all of a sudden 10 other people get it too.
Click to expand...

lol you passes it along, i actually had my problem about a year ago, but it went away and had just recently come back
 
joegr said:
Okay, I'm confused. Your first post said that it just clicked and wouldn't turn over. Now you say that it's the same thing, turns over but won't start. These statements are in conflict. Which is it?

1. Would turn over before but wouldn't start.

2. Wouldn't turn over before, but it now will.

3. Still doesn't turn over.
Click to expand...


Sorry, I said clicking when I meant cranking.

The car has been turning over, but never starting. Sorry for the confusion.
 
earlet9 said:
Sorry, I said clicking when I meant cranking.

The car has been turning over, but never starting. Sorry for the confusion.
Click to expand...

Okay, well scratch the thoughts about the starter and its wiring.

Have you tried to start it while holding the gas pedal half way down?
Do you have fuel pressure?
PATS light?
 
joegr said:
Okay, well scratch the thoughts about the starter and its wiring.

Have you tried to start it while holding the gas pedal half way down?
Do you have fuel pressure?
PATS light?
Click to expand...

I just gave some basic things to cross off the list first too.


pektel said:
Well, you need 3 primary things for an internal combustion engine to run: air, fuel, and spark. Check your IAC valve. Check fuel pressure. Check spark. Then go from there.
Click to expand...

Though I could've explained HOW to do those steps too.
 
joegr said:
Okay, well scratch the thoughts about the starter and its wiring.

Have you tried to start it while holding the gas pedal half way down?
Do you have fuel pressure?
PATS light?
Click to expand...


I have tried starting it with the gas pedal half way down, no luck.

And how can/should I check if I have fuel pressure?

and PATS light? Sorry, don't know what it is.

I'm a 19 year old college kid, sorry for being clueless about this a little bit.
 
You need a fuel pressure guage to check fuel pressure. If you can't borrow one from a mechanic, you can get a cheap one for about $40. Just make sure it has the proper fitting for the schraeder valve (the GM schraeder valve is considerably larger than the one on the LS). The schraeder valve is on the fuel rail, and looks like a bike tire valve. Hook up the fuel pressure guage to that, and have someone turn the key to the ON position (without starting it. But I suppose that can go without saying, since you can't start it anyways). It should jump to between 30-65psi.

PATS light is the little gray dome on the center of the dash, about where the dash meets the windshield. If everything is kosher with the PATS (passive anti theft system), it will light up solid while you are cranking the engine. If somethings up, it will start blinking rapidly, then spit out a code (in the form of number of blinks).
 
Pats light -it comes on when i put the key in the ignition when i turn key it goes off doesn't flash at all alarm works all lights work tried starting with pedal half down still nothing just a click
 
The fuel pump and fuel filter were both replaced and the car is finally started and I got home for break. Thanks guys for the help.
 
lilnae said:
Pats light -it comes on when i put the key in the ignition when i turn key it goes off doesn't flash at all alarm works all lights work tried starting with pedal half down still nothing just a click
Click to expand...

Im still just getting a clicking noise.
 
If you have a charged battery, then it may be the starter/wiring to starter.
 
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