I have 09 SS with 40K miles. The car has had zero problems, but today after driving it to town and back, then stopping at the parents house to visit, went back to car and it would not start. It has all lights and the battery seems fine, as everything works, and lights are not going dim. When you go to start, you can hear the fuel pump charge, and when you turn the key to start, it does nothing. No clicking of any kind, just the normal startup process, minus the engine starting. I have already checked the relays and switched them out, with no change. So is this the starter or a sensor? I have had no prior issues.

 

Everything doesnt go dead when you try to turn it over?

Could always pop start it for now

 

If you can check for if you get power to the starter on the wire that activates the solenoid and starter, check if that has power first before you go throwing on a new starter and before whacking it with a rubber mallet.

 

If a manual could be the clutch switch.
If automatic could be the park switch (try it in neutral)

But then could be the ignition switch as well if your sure the battery is good.

 

yes, the lights go down when you go to start, but nothing happens, and the light come back on... so its acting normally.

car has the 100K drivetrain warranty, but couldn't figure out if the starter is covered, one place said it was, but not sure..

The clutch switch was my 2nd guess too, not sure how I can fix that though... anyway have a link to a manual.. thanks

 

Boost it or charge the battery and see what happens.
Or test the voltage on the battery while trying to start it,if less than 12 charge it.could have a bad cell and only be at 10 volts ,the lights will still work but not as bright.

Actually don't start anything till you check the battery voltage!!

 

Well, I did try to jump it, with the same result... anyone have a link to a repair manual for our cars...

 

Do u have the security light on your gauges cluster on ..

 

Tell me this, does your stereo work or make a poppig sound when you turn it up? If so your battery is dead. If not, I'd get out a multimeter and check every single fuse. Won't take but maybe 5 minutes.

 

Nope, Security light is not on... everything functions normal... I didn't turn the speakers all the way up, but they played fine and driving lights are nice and bright.

This morning, I tried again, and the car did make a noise after turning the key... it was a very quick "kerchunck" sound, then nothing... almost like it started to try to start, but never got past intial try... no other sounds.... I'm hoping its just the battery being crazy... getting a new one today to see if that fixes it, before I call my Dealership... I just hope the 100k dt warranty covers the starter, if thats the problem.

 

My guess is it's a bad battery. Does your security light come on or flicker when you try to start it?

 

It looks like the starter (starter motor) is under the 5 year/100k mile powertrain warranty. Please update as to whether or not the battery replacement helps!

Sarah
GM Customer Service

 

Thanks for the reply!

I'm getting a Duralast Gold from Autozone (direct replacement). I did call my dealership, and they said if just one cell is bad in the battery, it will do exactly as I described. Crosses fingers.

 

At first I was leaning toward clutch switch, as my '06 SS went through 3 of them, but your "kerchunck" description sounds just like a battery that can't produce enough current to start the car. It may have plenty of charge (hence no dimming or other symptoms), but like the dealer said, if a cell is dead it may not be able to flow enough current. When you're in there, check all connections for corrosion as well. It's unlikely in a newer car, but bad wires / cables can also screw with things, but they generally have to be pretty far gone to prevent a car from starting. Good luck!

 

Well, after checking wires and putting in a new battery (tested good), I had the same exact result. Car acts like it will try to start with kerchunk sound, then nothing.... turn key, lights dim, the sound, then nothing.... after trying a 2nd and 3rd time, no more kerchunk sound though.... sending it to the dealership in the morning... prob the starter... I hope, since its covered...

 

positive post on your fuse box under the hood is probably loose.

 

I will check that first thing in the morning.... hope your right, just not sure how it became loose just sitting tho...

 

See if it even pop starts

 

Crankshaft Sensor?? Exactly describes what happened to mine before I had it towed to the Dealership.. Thats wat they told me.. Was fixed under warrenty tho, so its cool

 

Update:

Well, this morning I made sure the positive post was tight on the fuse box under the hood and that made no difference, so I then called OnStar to get the car towed. Onstart service was quick and friendly. While waiting for the tow truck, we put the old battery back in, so that I could take the new one back and get a refund, since it wasn't a battery issue. Anyway, after putting old batt in, I decided to try to start the car again. First try, it did same thing as before, 2nd try, after removing the key and reinserting.... it started right up. It has been driven twice today, and turned off and restarted over 12 times with no issues....

I am completely perplexed as to what happened now. I prob shoudl take it in and have a diag done on it, but that will cost me $75 if they find nothing....

I guess the SS just wanted a vacation.... geezzzz

 

Weird...ignition maybe or ECM hiccup...

 

Maybe the battery connections were the culprit.

 

ya, maybe the connections? I've had that problem 2
You got HiDs or anything? My car wouldn't start in Louisiana when I was makin my trip from Tx-Pa, an everything seemed fine... I changed the battery connector from the standard weak (aluminum?) to a Gold connector from Autozone an I've had no problems since

 

No HIDs, stock radio, and cables were all tight like crazy... sooooo ?????

will update if it happens again.... : |

 

meh.. its a cobalt

I got mine "new"(92 mi) an had it in the dealership 8-9 times for warranty work in like 7 months... The only reason I didn't trade it in was cuz I had already put so much money into it an didn't feel like startin over