Is a symptom of a burned out starter motor a very heavy electrical draw, without the starter engaging? The solenoid does click.

The problem is at the starter motor solenoid. The clicking sound heard is the solenoid switch engaging but with not enough force to switch on the heavy current needed to turn the starter motor. Light tap with a soft mallet on the starter motor might help but the starter motor need to be serviced to replace or service worn/burnt/dirty the heavy duty solenoid switch.

Hi Anonymous

What I believe you've said is that you turn the key to start, the engine turns over for a second, then you just hear the starter spinning but no engine turn over. Yes?

Then you took it to Autozone and tested it and it stayed engaged during the test. The differences, possible or real here, are the load on the starter gear end, and the electricity driving it.

There are a couple things happening in the start cycle. The motor starts spinning and the solenoid pushes the spinning gear forward to engage the toothed edge of the flywheel. If the solenoid doesn't push enough, the gear won't engage. So, one thought is that there's an issue with the solenoid - it may push the gear out just fine, but lack power to keep it pressed forward if there is back-force from the engine.

If you have a poor connection to the battery, the solenoid may not draw the current to keep the gear engaged. Checking the hot (red) wire both at the battery and where it attaches to the starter is the primary diagnostic there. Even if the battery has a good charge, the current draw if starting is the heaviest load it encounters in a typical day of driving, so the ability of the battery to dump that charge quickly in a pulse of high current is also important, and non-corroded, tightly connected wires help.

The starter gear also has a clutch in it - akin to the freewheel on the rear of a bike, or a ratchet. This lets the gear spin faster than the starter motor once the engine catches, so that the engine doesn't essentially grab the engaged starter motor and spin it waaay too fast. letting back on the key lets the fast spinning gear disengage without trouble. If there is an issue with that clutch/ratchet, that might also be allowing the gear to spin without it actually pushing - like the clicker in a ratchet sticking so that it'll spin either way.

After that.... there is likely both a relay and a fuse for the starter. Not a bad idea to check that neither is blown, or, in the case of the relay, looking sort of browned and cooked.

Hope this helps!
D

The 1st thing i need to do is clarify what you mean by "won't trun over" do you mean the starter motor spins the engine and it will not fire up or that the starter doesn't trun the engine over? If the starter doesn't turn the engine over do you hear a clicking coming from the starter solenoid when this happens? If so replace the starter solenoid the heavy electrical contacts are burned.

this is caused by a defective starter solenoid, the heavy contact that engage the starter get burned the solenoid engages (the click u hear) but the starter gets no power due to the contacts being burned away

I would suspect the starter solenoid has failed.

A starter solenoid (or starter relay) is the part of an automobile which relays a large electric current to the starter motor, which in turn sets the engine in motion. In many vehicles the solenoid also engages the starter pinion with the ring gear of the engine.

The starter solenoid receives a large electric current from the car battery and a small electric current from the ignition switch. When the ignition switch is turned on, a small electric current is sent to the starter solenoid. This causes the starter solenoid to close a pair of heavy contacts, thus relaying a large electric current to the starter motor, which in turn sets the engine in motion. The starter motor is an electric motor that initiates piston motion in a car's internal combustion engine before it can power itself.

It sounds like your starter solenoid (relay) is failing. The clicking is a classic symptom. It's time to have it replaced.

A starter solenoid (or starter relay) is the part of an automobile which relays a large electric current to the starter motor, which in turn sets the engine in motion .In many vehicles the solenoid also engages the starter pinion with the ring gear of the engine.

The starter solenoid receives a large electric current from the car battery and a small electric current from the ignition switch. When the ignition switch is turned on, a small electric current is sent to the starter solenoid. This causes the starter solenoid to close a pair of heavy contacts, thus relaying a large electric current to the starter motor, which in turn sets the engine in motion. The starter motor is an electric motor that initiates piston motion in a car's internal combustion engine before it can power itself.

Several things at play: Possible the battery, can you have the car jumped to see if it may start? If the same condition exist I expect the starter and its solenoid has failed. THe clicking your hearing I expect is the starter solenoid engaging; being the starter does not rotate it will pull heavy amps causing the lights to dim and such. I'd hold off on trying to start it until you confirm which. If the starter is bad and you continually try to start it the heavy amps draws from the starter can damage the battery. Also check your cable connections too. Be certain they are clean and tight; this is for the ground connection too. Please remember if you do need to remove the starter to remove the ground cable from the battery first; this is to protect you and your car's electrical system.
I hope this may have helped,
Tom

While your Chevy is still pretty new, it sounds like you have a starter solenoid issue. That's a typical symptom of its failure.

A starter solenoid (or starter relay) is the part of an automobile which relays a large electric current to the starter motor, which in turn sets the engine in motion.In many vehicles the solenoid also engages the starter pinion with the ring gear of the engine.

this car uses a Nippon Denso starter, this click means the heavy electrical contacts in the starter mountedr starter solenoid are burned, the solenoid works (the click u hear) but because of the burned contacts the starter gets no power to engage, u can replace the contacts only for around $15 from the following link, u will need the starter motor number.

http://www.iowamotorparts.com/index.htm