03 Chevy Cavalier having problems starting

RINISPANINI20

MEMBER
2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

2003 chevy cavalier 56,000 miles, automatic. I am having problems starting my car. When it sits for a period of time like say 2 hours or more it takes three times to crank it up. I go and turn the key and all the lights in the dash start flashing and making a weird noise. I crank it a second time and no flashing and no noise but it still doesnt start. I crank it a third time and it turns over and starts. I've been told that it is the starter and ive been told that it is the battery. What do I do?

Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 AT 9:35 AM

1 Reply

POET042005

MECHANIC
134 POSTS

Well lets start here. When you turn the key to start the car over dose the lights in the car go very dim
(if so this is a sign of a low battery or bad connections).

Second when the car actually dose turn over dose the starter motor turn the engine real slow as though the battery sounds as if its going dead (this is a sign of a bad starter but only if the battery is good with clean secure post connections)

Third take a look at your batter terminals, you want to make sure they are tight and that their is no corrosion on the post. If so clean them with wire brush resecure and give it a try.

Let me no and will move on to the next step if needed.

Richard

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Friday, August 17th, 2007 AT 7:09 PM