Car not cranking after engine is warmed up?

Tiny
PILOTBILL
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 CHEVROLET SPARK
  • 1.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 72,555 MILES
Hello 2CarPros, I have a question for you. We (Wife and I) have the vehicle listed above. Back in March 2025 we had to replace the battery in it. Just in the last two (2) weeks every time we go somewhere, when we get ready to leave a place, the car doesn’t want to start. If we let it set for a few hours, we can get back in the car and the car will start right back up. Whatever it is seems to only happen after the car engine is warned up. If you just let the car sit for a while and let the engine cool down some, it will start right back up. We have checked the new battery, and it is okay. Do you have any idea what I should check? I am at a loss. Last year the car did the same thing, we took it to our local garage, and they found out it was a loose battery cable on the starter. Could it be that the starter has gone bad? Please help. Thank you.
Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 AT 12:36 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Yes, chances are the starter motor is going out or you have a loose battery cable, when you try to crank the engine over does all of the electrical go out? If so this can be the problem. the way to see if the starter motor is the problem is you need to use test light and test for power at the starter motor trigger when the key is in the crank position. Please go over this guide and video:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRW8fyNudY

Here is the location of the starter motor. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 AT 10:30 AM
Tiny
PILOTBILL
  • MEMBER
  • 86 POSTS
All the dash lights stay on. When you turn the key there is not even a click or anything else, but the dash lights do stay on until you let go of the key, then the dash lights will go out.
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Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 AT 12:21 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Gotcha, this does not sound like the starter motor FYI, because the instrument cluster lights should stay on once the key is releases but the ignition system is still on. I would make sure the battery is good by removing it and having the auto parts store load test it. Then I would recheck all fuses with the key on. There is a chance the ignition switch or BCM has gone out. Here is a guide to do a CAN scan to check the BCM and a guide to help check the output of the ignition switch.

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Test the ignition switch with the key on. Here is the location of the BCM as well. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, August 7th, 2025 AT 5:45 PM

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