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1998 Grand Prix GTP Supercharged, Clicks but won't Crank

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bigjul

New member
Just got 1998 Grand Prix GTP last week. When I go to try start I here this clicking from the Starter. Everything lights up inside, but when I turn the key no turn over just clicks. Any input would be greatly appreciad?
 


like five said, dead battery, get the car a jump start, drive to a auto parts store and have the alt and battery tested, and clean all your battery terminals and grounds.

and make sure you didnt leave the dome light, or something else on over night.
 
if the starter solenoid is bad it can also click, but more likely a bad ground or loose power cable to the starter.
 


I had the same problem and it drove me nuts, I replaced the battery and it kept doing the same thing it ended up being the starter solenoid . So check ur battery first then the solenoid.
 
Starter Solenoid is dislodged or worn out. Hit the starter with a hammer a few times, if that doesn't fix it (only a temp fix!!), it should be replaced ASAP.
 
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check/clean all the connections to battery. I did notice a cable that was not connected to anything. It's definitely a positive connector. Just to confirm the wires to the starter are the single purple(8mm) & (2)the double black/single red(13mm), assuming that is correct this positive cable doesn't belong to the starter. Here are the pics one standing over engine and one from drivers side.
Over Engine
 
if you follow that cable back to the battery and theres no fat wire on the large starter bolt, i would think it fell off the starter.
 
bigjul said:
check/clean all the connections to battery. I did notice a cable that was not connected to anything. It's definitely a positive connector. Just to confirm the wires to the starter are the single purple(8mm) & (2)the double black/single red(13mm), assuming that is correct this positive cable doesn't belong to the starter. Here are the pics one standing over engine and one from drivers side.
View attachment 12487
Click to expand...

Positive cable especially that big fat cable goes to the starter . If you look at your starter it should be big fat positive to starter + my car is then followed by 2 other positive cables attached to the starter and black negative from ground in block to starter - .
 


If he said he tried to jump it, and it still didn't start...

It clicks but doesn't start...

Its the starter... So why are we still talking about the battery? Lol
 
This happened to my cutlass after work.

Tried hammering, jumping, and cables.
Towed it home. Replaced the starter. Started up first
 
Thompsju said:
This happened to my cutlass after work.

Tried hammering, jumping, and cables.
Towed it home. Replaced the starter. Started up first
Click to expand...


i understand where your coming from, but hes got a battery power cable sitting there un hooked ( thats hot with power)

you dont buy new parts when theres a power cable unhooked, you make the wires right then if it dont work you buy new parts.
 


Connected loose battery cable to starter. Still just hearing clicking like starting trying to turn over, dome light dimming, but no turn over from engine.. Getting started checked, if starter is good,/ will buy new battery.
 
so the nut fell off and the large cable came off the starter right? just so we are on the same page here. you have one fat cable on the starter now?

did you check the grounds on the trans bell housing and the battery terminals?
 
Yes checked all grounds. What happened is former owner changed starter and I believe didn't connect all cables. Just to confirm This is what wires are connected to starter. I have the purple single wire connected by a 8mm bolt. Then I have a one double black wire(16 gauge), one red wire(16 gauge), and one Positive cable(10gauge) connected by a 13mm bolt
 
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