GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 2005 🢒 Sunfire 🢒 Vehicle Control Systems 🢒 Vehicle DTC Information 🢒 Starter Solenoid Does Not Click

Step

Action

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Starting and Charging Schematics

Connector End View Reference: Master Electrical Component List

1

Did you perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle?

Go to Step 2

Go to Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle

2
  1. Depress the clutch pedal or verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.
  2. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Is the Security indicator flashing?

Go to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List - Vehicle

Go to Step 3

3
  1. Depress the clutch pedal or verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.
  2. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Did the engine crank?

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections

Go to Step 4

4
  1. Depress the clutch pedal or verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.
  2. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the starter solenoid click?

Go to Starter Solenoid Clicks, Engine Does Not Crank

Go to Step 5

5
  1. Depress the clutch pedal or verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.
  2. Turn the ignition from the ON to Start position several times.

Does the CRANK relay click each time the ignition is placed in the Start position?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 6

6
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the CRANK relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the CRANK relay coil and a good ground.
  4. Depress the clutch pedal or verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.
  5. Turn the ignition to the Start position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 9

7
  1. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the CRANK relay coil and the ground circuit of the CRANK relay coil.
  2. Depress the clutch pedal or verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.
  3. Turn the ignition to the Start position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 27

Go to Step 30

8

Does the vehicle have an automatic transmission?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 17

9

Does the vehicle have a manual transmission?

Go to Step 15

Go to Step 21

10
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the CRANK relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the battery positive voltage circuit of the CRANK relay switch and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 31

11
  1. Install a scan tool.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Place the transmission in Park or Neutral.
  4. With a scan tool, observe the TR Sw. parameter in the PCM data list.

Does the scan tool display Park or Neutral?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 25

12
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Apply the parking brake and verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.

    3. Important: The Engine may crank when the jumper wire is installed.

  3. Connect a 30-amp fused jumper between the battery positive voltage circuit of the CRANK relay switch circuit and the crank voltage circuit of the park neutral position (PNP) switch.

Does the engine crank?

Go to Step 27

Go to Step 13

13
  1. Disconnect the PNP switch.
  2. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the PNP switch and ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 32

14

Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuits of the PNP switch.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 23

15
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Install the CRANK relay.
  3. Disconnect the clutch pedal position (CCP) switch.
  4. Connect a 3-amp fused jumper between the crank voltage circuits of the CPP switch.
  5. Depress the clutch pedal.
  6. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the engine crank?

Go to Step 26

Go to Step 16

16
  1. Remove the jumper.
  2. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the CPP switch and ground.
  3. Turn the ignition to the Start position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 20

17
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the CRANK relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the battery positive voltage circuit of the CRANK relay switch and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 31

18
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Apply the parking brake and verify the transmission is in Park or Neutral.

    3. Important: The engine may crank when the jumper wire is installed.

  3. Connect a 30-amp fused jumper between the battery positive voltage circuit of the CRANK relay switch circuit and the crank voltage circuit of the starter solenoid.

Does the engine crank?

Go to Step 27

Go to Step 19

19

Does the fuse in the jumper open?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 23

20

Test the crank voltage circuit of the CCP switch for a high resistance or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 24

21

Test the crank voltage circuit of the CRANK relay coil for a high resistance or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 24

22

Test the crank voltage circuit of the starter solenoid for a short to ground. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 28

23

Test the crank voltage circuit of the starter solenoid for a high resistance or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 28

24

Inspect for poor connections at the ignition switch. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 33

25

Inspect for poor connections at the PNP switch. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 34

26

Inspect for poor connections at the CCP switch. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 35

27

Inspect for poor connections at the CRANK relay. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 36

28

Inspect for poor connections at the starter solenoid. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 37

29

Repair the high resistance or open in the crank voltage circuit of the CRANK relay coil. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 38

--

30

Repair the high resistance or open in the ground circuit of the CRANK relay coil. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 38

--

31

Repair the high resistance or open in the battery positive voltage circuit of the CRANK relay switch. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 38

--

32

Repair the high resistance or open in the crank voltage circuit of the PNP switch. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 38

--

33

Replace the ignition switch. Refer to Ignition and Start Switch Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 38

--

34

Replace the PNP switch. Refer to Park/Neutral Position Switch Replacement for the automatic transaxle - 4T40-E/4T45-E.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 38

--

35

Replace the CCP switch. Refer to Clutch Pedal Position Switch Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 38

--

36

Replace the CRANK relay.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 38

--

37

Replace the starter motor. Refer to Starter Motor Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 38

--

38

Operate the system for which the symptom occurred.

Is the symptom still present?

Go to Step 2

System OK