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1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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jmil1979
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Sep 23, 2013, 1:10 PM
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1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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Just recently replaced an alternator in a 97 cavalier, and now the car does not turn over. I hear a clicking sound, which tells me that the starter. Located where the starter was and took a hammer to tap on it to see if would turn over with no luck. Don't have time for YouTube videos. Just want to know what other options I have to get the car running and if not, what tools do I need to take the starter out and replace with a new one. Thanks in advance!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 23, 2013, 1:29 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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Test battery, charging system even with new alternator it may not be charging and may not have been the problem,
T
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jmil1979
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Sep 23, 2013, 1:36 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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battery is good I got it tested and charged the day I replaced the alternator
how would I test the charging system? I know very little about cars and just trying to learn all that I can
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 23, 2013, 1:57 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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Well - to test charging system it would help to have it running. How long did it run if at all with the battery test and charging the battery? It may have just run off the charge it had and not charging at all still if it ever was.
You need at least some basics. A voltmeter and battery charger again on your own.
Check the battery terminals on GM side posts real well too. They are famous for hidden corrosion and may need to push back the now hard rubber insulation and have a good look, wire brush cleaned and a smear of grease or if they are NG they need to go.
Remember to always remove neg battery cable first and it goes on last. You can use a basic memory saver if it hasn't lost everything already that uses a 9v household battery into a power port, cig lighter and disable any lights underhood and don't open a door while battery is disconnected. That won't last forever but should for the duration of while you work.
I couldn't guess your budget for this but you can get a fair volt/ohm meter for about $20, slow battery maintainer charger for about $20 (Home Depot has them by Black and Decker) or other places or get a better one. Auto shut off is real nice!
You said you hear a click so power is getting to starter and can't blame it yet until the rest is known. The hammer trick on the starter is when you are sure you have good power to starter and it doesn't respond. That tap CAN make a weak one make it work. If so that's a good chance of a bad starter. If nothing it's inconclusive.
That click you hear -- is that one solid click, a machine gun of clicks and can you tell where? Single click could be bad connections and that multiple rapid clicking is low amp delivery to the starter usually.
Test and check as much as you can as you can go broke tossing parts that weren't the problem,
T
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jmil1979
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Sep 23, 2013, 2:18 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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The car was running about a month ago when while on the way to work, the car's dashlights all came on at once and the car reduced in speed. I have a personal mechanic who took out the old alternator and it was found to be bad.
He then replaced the alternator, and on the same day I took the battery to get it tested and charged. Upon using the hammer trick, I noticed that the car was struggling to turn. It was making a humming sound after turning the key. Thanks for your advice and anything else you can tell me would be greatly appreciated!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 23, 2013, 2:36 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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"Struggling to turn" is a key point. Now I'd test voltage drop when asking for starter. If it draws way too much power you could get those symptoms.
Glad you have a mechanic to help. Just know battery may have tested good and really not be. You, your mechanic should try a boost with a jumper box and if not available follow procedures for jumper cables - wait a bit then try if that and the older the donor car the better as jumping if the Cavalier has a nasty problem can cause problems with the donor!
Also - back to hose side post connections. You must know they are good. Jumping with anything is only going to the battery to just the little bolt post on those not into the whole operation.
All the lights on dash thing back when is probably just because of the lack of power in the battery to operate the car and they'll do that especially if about to stall.
"Measure twice, cut once" as they say. It's still early but beginning to think you need a new starter but test some more,
T
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jmil1979
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Sep 23, 2013, 3:20 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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Just attempted to jump start the cavalier with no luck. It maid the same struggling sound it made before.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 23, 2013, 3:47 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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Already said that the jump to the posts only go to the battery and only as good as the connection to the cables. I'll be off line for a while but try again and just torque by hand a bit on the connections and see if that helps. From there is needs some amp draw testing if no luck and cables are good,
T
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Discretesignals
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Sep 23, 2013, 3:56 PM
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Re: 1997 Chevy Cavalier-Starter will not turn over
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Starter probably took a dump. Just did one today on a 98 Sunturd 2.2L that was dragging and setting cam and crank sensor codes. The brushes were wasted.
Is yours a 2.2L?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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