Car won't start

hhoganjr

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bardstown KY
My LS started fine this morning. I stopped in at the local gas station, got in the car and it wouldn't start ( 2nd time this has happened in a week). All the lights and accessories worked, the gauges pegged slowly. No clicking sound or any other for that matter. I just replaced the starter a couple weeks ago. Anybody have any suggestions?
 
Have you checked your battery connections? Or connections to starter? Maybe something just isn't getting good contact.
 
+1 on the battery.

Mine behaved EXACTLY the same and the battery seemed to maintain the proper voltage (with a multi-tester) and passed all but the long exhaustive test at the parts store. I put a new battery in and the problem went away and has been gone for over a year.
 
Old thread revival time. My 01 V8 won't start when it's below 10 outside. I have some of same issues the op had. All the lights and everything else work, but when I turn the key I get nothing not even a click. I replaced the battery Monday, and I show 14.72v when tested under load. My next thought is maybe the starter, but it only does this when it's 10 degrees or less outside.
 
Old thread revival time. My 01 V8 won't start when it's below 10 outside. I have some of same issues the op had. All the lights and everything else work, but when I turn the key I get nothing not even a click. I replaced the battery Monday, and I show 14.72v when tested under load. My next thought is maybe the starter, but it only does this when it's 10 degrees or less outside.

If it's really 14.72, then that the voltage while the engine is running. That establishes that you alternator is okay, but it doesn't say anything about your battery. What's your battery voltage while the start is engaged? If less than 9.0 V, the battery is bad. How old is the battery? If over five years it is time for a new one.

Check that the big wire that goes to the starter is tightly and well connected to the starter. (Loose wire can sometimes only show up when it is very cold.) It could still be the starter itself too.
 
I am throwing a wild guess but maybe your car won't start cause your car is angry with you? Have you been sleeping around with other cars lately? And did your LS catch you in the act? You should try bringing her some lugnuts and maybe a bouquet of airfresheners
 
My battery was just put in Monday it was made 5/08 and tested at 11.92v.

Okay, so what is the PATS light doing when the starter won't activate? If it's flashing at that point, then your problem is with that system or your key.
 
Douche nozzle alert.

Personally, I think he's on to something. I've had random starting troubles (long cranking times, dead battery, etc). This will go on for a week, I'll finally make an appointment and the problem goes away. Once it's at the shop, they can't reproduce the problem. Sure enough, shortly after getting it back, it starts to happen again. So I think these cars are listening to our thoughts. I guess the answer is to have a weekly appointment for the car. It should be a few months before it catches on to the pattern.
 
Okay, so what is the PATS light doing when the starter won't activate? If it's flashing at that point, then your problem is with that system or your key.

I haven't noticed it flashing when it won't start.
 
I don't know what it is but my battery has a slow drain as well. It was replaced February 06 I bought it in August of 06 by the end of the year I had to buy a new one. Then almost exactly a year later my battery wouldn't hold a charge again, took it to the dealer they said it was bad and gave me a new one under warranty. The new battery started doing the same thing at the end of last year 08 so I bought a plug in battery charger which has kept it from dying but if I don't charge it for a couple of months it dies. It passes the voltage test so I don't think it's the alternator, it could be but I really don't feel like throwing money at this car for things that won't fix a problem because turst me there's already enought stuff that needs to be fixed.
 
I am not sure but do our cars have a seperate starter relay???? Maybe that could be that cause.
Given the symptoms, the starter relay would be my guess--my '04 had that problem. Sometimes it wouldn't start: you'd turn they key, and everything would be like a normal start, except for the fact that the starter didn't do anything.

The starter relay is in the power distribution box, which is on the leading edge of the passenger-side fenderwell, behind the headlight. IIRC, the horn and starter relays are the same specs, so you might try swapping them to see if that helps. You might also tap the starter relay with the handle of a screwdriver to see if that'll get the relay unstuck.
 
Given the symptoms, the starter relay would be my guess--my '04 had that problem. Sometimes it wouldn't start: you'd turn they key, and everything would be like a normal start, except for the fact that the starter didn't do anything.

The starter relay is in the power distribution box, which is on the leading edge of the passenger-side fenderwell, behind the headlight. IIRC, the horn and starter relays are the same specs, so you might try swapping them to see if that helps. You might also tap the starter relay with the handle of a screwdriver to see if that'll get the relay unstuck.

Sooner I'll look into it this weekend when I get time to mess with the car. Thanks
 

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