umm...whats wrong when u turn the key and notthing happens?...then u try again and it starts?

 

When does it happen? All the time? Only when it's hot? When you turn the key to the "on" position, do you still get power to everything or is it all just dead? does it "click" when you try to turn it over or just nothing?

Could be the key cylinder is going bad. Could be you have a starter solonoid going bad. Could be loose wires on the starter.

Could be...could be...lol I'd start with making sure all the wires on the starter are tight, then if it keeps up or only happens when it's hot, replace the starter. Without knowing more, i'm really just shooting from the hip here.

 

all accessories go on...its like notthing at all...happend to me like 3 times but always starts on the 2nd time I try that it had happend...everything seems normal just wont crank at all...I will check wires tho....not when its hot...its probly like 65-70 at 3 in the morn. when it happend at its not hot at all

 

Well, since everything comes on, I'd say you've probably got a solonoid going bad. If nothing at all came on, i'd say you've got a bad wire somewhere. Solonoids going bad can either do it a little at a time or just "blam" and go out never to work again.

 

can I buy just the sylonoid or should I just get a new starter?

 

By the way everything on this car is original, 149k on the dash...guy before me had it 3-4 years and put like 12k on....I have a feeling im ganna be replacing alot the next few months.

 

Chevy Starters come with the solonoid attached. I know that it's possible to just replace a solonid however I don't know how difficult it would be and that if you get a starter from Autozone or Checker or wherever, it comes with a solonoid on it.

 

Then you got a Gem. A little TLC and she'll run for another 149K.

 

If there is no starter functioning at all - sounds like your VATS is causing you problems.

Inside the key cylinder, there is little contacts that touch the pellet on your key - the springs behind the contacts wear over time, and the contacts don't touch the pellet. So, the VATS module is not getting the resistor value in the pellet, thus it doesn't ground the starter enable relay, and thus no juice to starter.

Sometimes, the pellet on the key wears down as well, but less likely.

1) Try a new key - any ACE Hardware can make a new key for $25
or
2) Try the VATS bypass and see if the issue goes away. https://www.thirdgen.org/vats

DO NOT EVER LOSE THAT KEY! You should have had a spare made already, and you should be using the spare and NOT the original - the original should be tucked away in your sock drawer, never to be used for anything but making spares! 10 folks a day on here have to replace their keys, VATS module, etc. all because they don't go make a spare key. Every car you ever own, the first thing you should do is get spare keys made, and put the original away, and ONLY ever use the original key to make more spares. I have mine on a keyring with the VATS resistor value written on the ring so I always know what the value is. I also have it written in my owners manual, and in my car file.

If not VATS, then diagnose the remaining starter circuit components using http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=38

Starters and solenoids are very often replaced, but are rarely the problem - before you go throwing parts at the problem, diagnose it first!

 

i had the same thing happen to me yesterday i turned the key switch nothing, no roar to life no nothing, watched the dash and the security light never went out, had someone take me to work 2 hours late, thanks chevrolet for your brilliant idea, came back home that afternoon with 2400 ohms of resistance and the car fired up on its on, i clipped the orange wires under the dash and performed the bypass anyways, if you have the VATS system on your car it is not a matter of IF its a matter of when its gonna get cha, I hope this helps you, also my car before did the same thing and it turned out to be a dead starter we lifted it on a lift and smacked the starter a few good ones and it fired right up. Hope this helps and good luck.....

BTW...... I STILL LOVE MY CHEVYS even though the VATS system sucks.

 

its 12 midnight.....and i jus got got by my vats system. I got a brand new key made and it jus went out....security light comes on(sometimes)...and sometimes it doesnt.....i had my column rebuilt as well as a new orange wire put in my column.....and now it jus wont do anything.....i had to roll my car out of the way to let ppl out my driveway. and now i cnt even move it....i gotta say the single most frustrating thing i have experienced on a car...thusfar

 

Before you go crazy and start throwing parts at it:

If you have a automatic are you sure its fully in park?
Did you try and start it in neutral and see if the same thing
happens?

It might be as simple as the shifter/cable/neutral safety switch
is out of adjustment.................

 

naw i have a 5 speed manual

 

Ok then you have a stick.
Then it is possible the starter interlock/safety switch on or connected to the
clutch pedal is out of adjustment or going bad.

My bud just had this issue with his s-10 and the switch had came loose
from its mounting.................