So my Cobalt LS left my wife stranded the other day at Target. Everything worked fine, she turned it off and went inside, came out later and the engine wouldnt start.

The starter motor turned but sounded as if it wasn't engaging. bought a new starter assuming it was the bendix but this starter did the same. The starter motor spun but the engine wasn't. took it off and tested it in the parking lot with a set of cables and the starter worked perfectly, motor and bendix. Put back on and it wouldn't turn the engine.

I inspected the flywheel which looked just fine. didn't wiggle or shift but I was able to turn it with a large screw driver. not sure if thats normal or not.

Any ideas?

 

Starter spins as if my engaging flywheel/flex plate? Or motor spins and doesn't start? Maybe the ring gear is hooped or you got a bad starter.

 

starter spins and you can hear the bendix engage. it works perfect off the car also. When I turn the key the starter spins freely but it seems as if its NOT engaging because the engine doesn't budge, though I know the bendix is operational. I can manually engage the bendix with it on the car. it is identical to the old starter i took off and after I bought the new one I had the old retested and it worked as well. had the keep the new one because I cracked the old beating it with a hammer.

ive read that it could possibly be something with the flywheel. its an automatic if that helps.

 

so after some more testing the stater is engaging and the flywheel and drive belt are turning but the engine sounds like it has no compression at all. almost as if its being started with no spark plugs in it. there was no indication that the timing chain broke at any point as there was no odd sounds when it was last turned off.

we are having it towed Monday and then ill pull the timing cover off.

 

I had the same issue. Come to find out, my fuel pump stopped working. It sounded like it was working, but it actually wasn't. I'd try spraying starter fluid in it when cranking and see if it starts up.

 

wish i was that lucky. I got it home and pulled the valve cover. The timing chain has a good bit of slack in it... The crazy thing is it happened on startup and not while running. im hoping that limited the damage to the number of valves. That is assuming because it wasn't under normal load means it didn't jump as many teeth.

It has something like 130K miles so after a rebuild of the top end it should last at least that many more.

 

Yea, I ended up rebuilding my top end thinking that I had jumped time. I checked all my basics but when I checked the fuel rail, I had gas come out and thought that the pump was working, but actually it was the gas that hadn't been used yet. I've learned to double check everything. But rebuilding the top isn't bad. Hope the damage is as minimal as possible.

 

So was your chain screwed? A friend's car just stared sounding like it has no spark plugs.