Engine Will Not Rotate

[jordan]

2000 Alero with 2.4litre:

Engine will not rotate when attempting to start. No door locks work or any lights, etc. The car is dead as dead gets. I got a new Champion battery 3 weeks ago and the car was running great untill last night. Doutfull its the battery Turned it off to fill up my tires, and then it wouldn't start.
Get this; a very weird fast clicking noise is heard under the glove box when the key is not turned to the ACC or ON position.

First thought was the Antitheft feature because I did get a new ignition a couple months ago because my car got broken into so maybe it's a wire or something that isn't proper. I left the key in the ignition in the ON position for about 15-20min and then all the lights inside came on, including head lights, began to turn the key to Start position and out go all the lights and no sound of motor turning over.

Any ideas? Wish I had an OBDII-code reader.

[Vtolds]

This is a scan strait from my haynes manual.
http://img63.exs.cx/img63/8863/enginewillnotrotatewhenatempti.jpg

[jordan]

I got the same manual. Just looking for experience and or opinions.

thanks though

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

I had a similar problem about a month ago. Turns out my fuel pump was shorted out. I don't know how that happened.

[dirtwheeler89]

right now i have the same problem. When i turn it to accessory i get power but wen i turn it to start it everything just dies and there no fuel pressure.


THinks its the pump or maybe the ignition switch??????

[bigd6983]

what was the reason for the new battery, previous one died or you just felt it was time for a replacement?? about the clicking that almost sounds like a relay, im not sure if there are any in the passenger side fuse box.......have you checked to make sure your starter didnt go bad, if the motor took a dumb it will try to spin but once the teeth hit the motor on the starter gives in and clicks over and continues to do it(one symptom)........could be wiring, could be all those things vtold scanned.......id say start with the easiest, then cheapest, then difficult, then most expensive lol.....thats the order i like doing everything in

[eag182]

Alternator? Maybe it wasn't juicing your battery enough.

[Fast Eddie]

Security module issue? turn the key to "ON" and see if the security light blinks. If it does than leave it there for 10 minutes, until the light goes off (on one solid). then it will start. This procdure is in the manual. This will also disable the fuel pump cuz the car thinks it was stolen.

[bassboss]

If it were a security problem the car WOULD start but only run for a few seconds then shut off again.

It sounds to me like you might have gotten a bad battery. My buddies sunfire was doing the same thing your car is and it turned out to be a bad battery.

[pawzbear]

hmmmmmm baby you better hope your engines not locked up.
been changing the oil like your supposed to?
i dont think its the alternator or battery. i have had both in mine go bad before, and my situation was nothing like this. i had a warning light on that the battery was low for a day before it died. lol.
go to a mechanic. we cannot diagnose your car online.
good luck- i hope its not locked up!!! (big job... $$$)

[bigd6983]

i cant imagine its locked up......have u tryed to jump it? have u tryed charging the battery and trying again? like someone else said does the security light come on? cause thats another possibility......

[Fast Eddie]

Originally posted by bassboss@Jan 23 2006, 09:22 PM
If it were a security problem the car WOULD start but only run for a few seconds then shut off again.

It sounds to me like you might have gotten a bad battery. My buddies sunfire was doing the same thing your car is and it turned out to be a bad battery.
Quoted post

How does it run w/o gas?? the security systems prevents the fuel pump from starting.

After re-reading the symptoms, its probably not the security systems b/c that will spin the engine. It just leaves the fuel pump off so it won't start or run.

Is it throwing a code? if so autozone will scan it for free. I believe advanced auto will now as well also.

[racin4JC]

I have the exact same problem! Try just hooking up and jumping it. I have found that it won't start under it's own power but as soon as you hook up jumper cables all power returns and mine turns right over. Not sure why it does that, but I talked to a mechanic at my GM dealer and he said that lately a lot of our cars "tumbler" or ignition mechanisism get worn and don't work properly. I don't know if that is for sure though because I haven't changed mine. I have found it tends to do it more if I use the keyless entry.

[2002rubyalero]

Originally posted by pawzbear@Jan 23 2006, 10:36 PM
i had a warning light on that the battery was low for a day before it died.
Quoted post


i'd like to think you're a rare case then, both me and my buddies alero's didnt show a warning light when our died. they died quite suddenly.

but personally i think it has to do with the security poop on the car.

[brim]

try jump starting the vehicle if you haven't already done so, or try hooking up someone else's battery and see what happens.

could be a bad battery, or could be the alt killed the battery, you trying to throw the load drains it down instantly.

Other than that check your cables and make sure all contacts are tight, DOUBLE CHECK them irregardless and see if that's it

[Oldsman]

check for security light.

i had this happen once. went to start it and security light was flashing and it did nothing. no cranking, no nothing. i ran it up and down the gear shifter and tried a few other things then it started. it only happened once.

[j_smith]

When my car did something similar to this, I always had to jump it to start it. Turns out it didn't really need jumped, the battery terminals just needed moved around. I ended up buying a new battery because the "post" where the bolt goes into the battery was broken and not making good contact. Hard to explain but a new battery fixed the problem.

[jordan]

Wow...am i supprised to see this post crop up!
I never did give anyone an update on what the problem was and i did get it fixed. My battery cables loosened up and so that is what made my electrical go all wacko. lol I had gotten the car towed to a GM dealership and then they charged me for the prob once they found it (took them like 1/2hr to figure it out)..dam battery cables. poop, was I :pissed: $65... I learned a lesson to alway tighten battery cables first before calling the tow truck or posting a question on it.

[brim]

Originally posted by brim@Jan 24 2006, 05:11 PM
try jump starting the vehicle if you haven't already done so, or try hooking up someone else's battery and see what happens.

could be a bad battery, or could be the alt killed the battery, you trying to throw the load drains it down instantly.

Other than that check your cables and make sure all contacts are tight, DOUBLE CHECK them irregardless and see if that's it
Quoted post