HELP!!! car just goes click!

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HOMELS

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okay so i have a 2000 ls v8 3.9 and its been sitting for almost a year but i have started it throughout that time and drive it sometimes. so now its been sitting for about a month and i ran it yesterday for about 25 minutes.
today the engine doesnt start!!!

just a single click sound.

i guess that comes from the starting relay?
its very cold here in CT - about 10 - 20 degrees this weekend. i thought it might be the battery so i went to walmart and bought a new one but the same one click happens and car doesn t start nor turn over at all, just "click"

so can someone help me out, please????
 
HOMELS said:
... i thought it might be the battery so i went to walmart and bought a new one ...
Click to expand...

Walmart does not have a battery that correctly fits the LS. The one you bought isn't sealed and doesn't have a connection to the exterior vent tube. In addition to whatever problem you had, you now have the problem that you may one day have a hydrogen explosion in the interior of the car.

What is the PATS light doing when you get the click and the starter doesn't turn?
 
i just bought the battery for testing purposes only.

pats light is ??
 
joegr said:
Walmart does not have a battery that correctly fits the LS. The one you bought isn't sealed and doesn't have a connection to the exterior vent tube. In addition to whatever problem you had, you now have the problem that you may one day have a hydrogen explosion in the interior of the car.

What is the PATS light doing when you get the click and the starter doesn't turn?
Click to expand...

Now that is funny!
 
ah ...
k well i just went out to see and now im not even getting the click :(
the interior lights are still on with all eletrical but nothing in the motor area will move.

the pats light turns on when i first put in key and then i turn key and no lights blink or stay on.

what does that mean??
 
HOMELS said:
ah ...
k well i just went out to see and now im not even getting the click :(
the interior lights are still on with all eletrical but nothing in the motor area will move.

the pats light turns on when i first put in key and then i turn key and no lights blink or stay on.

what does that mean??
Click to expand...

It means it's not a PATS problem. You need to check for full battery voltage at the big power terminal of the starter. It should be there all of the time, key on or off. Next check for voltage to the coil of the starter solenoid while turning the key to start. If you have over 11 volts to both, then you need a new starter. If not, then we can troubleshoot the starter relay and wiring.
 
would the starter just go bad just like that? worked fine less than 24 hours before that.

and how about fuses? im going to check them in the morning. theres 3 fuses boxes, right?
 
HOMELS said:
would the starter just go bad just like that? worked fine less than 24 hours before that.

and how about fuses? im going to check them in the morning. theres 3 fuses boxes, right?
Click to expand...

Yea, starters can go anytime they want, I've seen starters do crazy things.

As far as the fuses go I'm not sure, check the owners manual(also in the tech articles section).
 
It is just a bad stater solenoid, my car sat for over 2 years, after I got it out and fixed, it worked for a week then just went click click, I took the starter off and just replaced the solenoid, I would check the brushes while you are there. These starters are real easy to rebuild, the solenoid is just 2 screws, I get the solenoids at a local starter/alternator rebuilder, the solenoid is only like 20-25$ but I see them on ebay for 46$ with a part number F916
 
Just had the same problem and needed to replace my starter.....tho with a lot of tries my car finally started but the starter was smoking after.
 
no its not dead. i heated up the engine bay area with a hair blower for quite some time. i faced it downwards and all around. after that i plugged battery into a starter and i keep turning the key. it started!!! it took about 10 turns in a row and it started. i read about a person who did this and it took them 60 tries in a row untill it started so i gave it a try and it worked. my starter was frozen! it starts perfectly every time now since its been running again. thanks for all the help here and i hope maybe this post might help someone in the future searching.
 
HOMELS said:
no its not dead. i heated up the engine bay area with a hair blower for quite some time. i faced it downwards and all around. after that i plugged battery into a starter and i keep turning the key. it started!!! it took about 10 turns in a row and it started. i read about a person who did this and it took them 60 tries in a row untill it started so i gave it a try and it worked. my starter was frozen! it starts perfectly every time now since its been running again. thanks for all the help here and i hope maybe this post might help someone in the future searching.
Click to expand...

It will fail again and again until you can't revive it. Starters don't freeze. The solenoid contacts are failing or the brushes are. Heating it and messing with it got it to finally make contact again. After awhile, the original problem will return.
 
Cables man just give them a twist on the post she will start. happens when you change batteries. just needs better connection.
 
sometimes in the cold (0-10F), i have to push the shifter all the way up because it thinks its not in park (despite the cluster saying so).
 
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