Every time i try to start the car it won't crank. instead it clicks as if its hesitating or something. it'll repeat this and i have to play with the ignition turning it off and on until finally the engine cranks over. I've been told a lot of different things could be wrong. Battery, starter, possible chip in key, etc. Bottom line, i'm tired of it. Before going out to spend money i'd like to see what yall think is wrong and if yall have had the same problem. If so what could i do to make it stop?

 

weak battery , or bad/corroded battery cables .

 

sounds like a bad ground

 

Sounds like all the right answers but you might want to include a bad starter. If you have VATS (Vehicle Antitheft system), You system won't click it just won't start and on some a security light will come on.

1. Load Test your battery, Don't just put a Multimeter on it. Should have 12+ volts and roughly no less than 650 CCA's after test
2. Check your + Positive Battery wire on starter and battery. Look for tight connections and no corrosion.
3. Check your - Negative Battery wire to Groud Wire(Same as NO# 2)

4. If all the above are good, with your Key in the off position.. put a jumper wire on your starter, jumping the purple wire on the starter with the Main + Battery wire, Hint!!!(these are the only 2 wires on your starter) Do not short them out with a ground on yoru vehicle unless you like sparks!!!! Your starter should crank over. It it just clicks after all conditions above are met, Change your bendix or starter itself. Ensure your engine turns over. If your engine is setup, no matter how good your starter is, "IT WON"T START"

 

there are a bunch of things it can be.
one is the started solenoid
or the starter can have a bad connection inside of the plastic box.
if the security light is on its vats.
check the neutral safety switch.
you are just going to have to follow the current. pain as it is, but it happens.

then there is one of my favorites and a real fluke.
when the people put in the original replacement battery they did not have a long enough ground cable so they used a red hot cable. so anyting anyone looked to charge the battery they put the red to red and it drained the battery. unless you had the battery out you did not see the + on what looked like the ground size, but what was actually the hot side.

 

happened to me a few weeks back. turns out it was corroded battery terminals

 

 

We have given him the plethora of knowledge to help fix it. Now he has to apply it. Putting a little grease or terminal protector spray on the battery terminals saves alot of grief sometimes. This sounds like a real simple problem that everyone has overlooked many times and then bites them in the a$$ once they figure it out.