before I change my starter, somebody help me diagnose this...

V6 engine.... when I turn the key, the guages move, but nothing happens with the engine, no clicks, turns, totally dead... for about 1 second. Sometimes less, sometimes MUCH more (left me stranded for half an hour one time before it finally started)

then it will just fireup normally, as if it's on a delay. I've changed my clutch switch, no improvement.

I don't think it's the key because the dash is showing the switch changing positions my the needles moving. I'm not exactly sure what the symptoms of a bad VATS system is, but that's why I'm asking

thanks

 

Could be a dirty bendix in the starter. Sometimes they can stick and get stuck half-way before fully engaging. Could also be a faulty solenoid, or even a bad winding in the armature, or bad brushes. Not at all uncommon with starters as they age.

Additionally, it could be a bad VATS pellet or a bad VATS relay. Does it give you any codes when you scan it or pop a paperclip in the ALDL?

 

no codes...

after doing a ton of research today, I was tipped off to the theft deterrent relay (which some called the starter realy which confused me) I figured any relay that is that old needs to be changed, so I went ahead and ordered a new one.

I'm about to turn my car into a daily driver, and not knowing if or when the starter has ever been changed, it's probably worth it to put a fresh one on there. I'll change the relay first to see if that helps, and then change the starter.

thanks

 

by the way, I have three brand new keys, and they all do the same thing, so I can rule out the pellet issue

 

Sounds to me like a bad solonoid or starter like previous poster mentioned. Tha'ts what my starter does when the solonoid sticks when it getes heat soaked.

 

thanks. I feel better about going out and buying a new starter now. I'll go ahead and change the relay...no reason not to.

 

I had the same problem. I removed the kick panel to access the starter enable relay. I could tap the relay WHILE turning the key and the car would turn over.

 

funny! I know those relays can be bypassed... tempted to gut the whole VATS system

 

well, I am in the process of troubleshooting my engine now anyway. For the moment I have a jumper stuck in where the wires go. Large yellow and Large green. to get it to turn over.

 

dang it!

after waiting amost a week for that part, it ends up being defective! the dang thing just buzzes, but doesn't work at all. I put the old one back in, and it started with a delay.
Then I bypassed the relay like was suggested to me, but I wanted to do it the "right" way. Car started just fine, 8 times in a row.

Seems to be fixed, but now I'm going to see if I can send this chinese POS back to amazon and get my $15 back