GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 2008 🢒 Vibe - FWD 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Electrical 🢒 Starter Solenoid Does Not Click

Step

Action

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Starting and Charging Schematics

Connector End View Reference: Engine Electrical Connector End Views

1

Review following description and operations:

Did you perform the necessary inspections?

Go to Step 2

Go to Symptoms - Engine Electrical

2

Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the starter solenoid click?

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections

Go to Step 3

3

Is the security indicator flashing?

Go to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List - Vehicle

Go to Step 4

4
  1. Install a scan tool.
  2. With a scan tool, observe the Starter Switch parameter in the Engine Data list.
  3. Turn the ignition switch to the START position.

Does the scan tool display Cranking?

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 17

5

Does the vehicle have Theft Deterrent?

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 8

6

Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the Starter Cut Relay click?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 9

7

Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the ST Relay click?

Go to Step 15

Go to Step 11

8

Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the ST Relay click?

Go to Step 15

Go to Step 12

9
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the Starter Cut Relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the Starter Cut Relay coil and ground.
  4. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 32

10
  1. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the Starter Cut Relay coil and the control circuit of the Starter Cut Relay coil.
  2. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 22

11
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the ST Relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the ST Relay coil and ground.
  4. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 14

12
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the ST Relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the ST Relay coil and a good ground.
  4. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 33

13
  1. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the ST Relay coil and the ground circuit of the ST Relay coil.
  2. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 26

Go to Step 34

14
  1. Leaving the test lamp in place.
  2. Turn OFF the ignition.
  3. Disconnect the Starter Cut Relay.
  4. Connect a 3-amp fused jumper between the ignition voltage circuits of the Starter Cut Relay switch.
  5. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 35

15
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the ST Relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the battery positive voltage circuit of the ST Relay switch and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 36

16

Important: The engine may crank during this procedure.

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

Does the engine crank?

Go to Step 26

Go to Step 23

17

Does the vehicle have an automatic transmission?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 20

18
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the Park/Neutral Position (PNP) switch.
  3. Connect a 10-amp fused jumper between the crank voltage circuit and the starter solenoid crank voltage circuit of the PNP switch.
  4. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the engine crank?

Go to Step 27

Go to Step 19

19
  1. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the PNP switch and ground.
  2. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 37

Go to Step 24

20
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the Clutch Pedal Position (CPP) switch.
  3. Connect a 10-amp fused jumper between the crank voltage circuit and the starter solenoid crank voltage circuit of the CPP switch.
  4. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the engine crank?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 21

21
  1. Connect a test lamp between the crank voltage circuit of the CPP switch and a good ground.
  2. Turn the ignition to the START position.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 38

Go to Step 24

22

Test the control circuit of the Starter Cut 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 46

Go to Step 31

23

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

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 46

Go to Step 30

24

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

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 46

Go to Step 29

25

Inspect for a poor connection at the Starter Cut Relay. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 46

Go to Step 39

26

Inspect for a poor connection at the ST Relay. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 46

Go to Step 40

27

Inspect for a poor connection 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 46

Go to Step 41

28

Inspect for a poor connection at the CPP switch. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 46

Go to Step 42

29

Inspect for a poor connection 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 46

Go to Step 43

30

Inspect for a poor connection 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 46

Go to Step 44

31

Inspect for a poor connection at the Theft Deterrent Module. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 46

Go to Step 45

32

Repair the high resistance or open in the crank voltage circuit of the Start Cut Relay between the Start Cut Relay and S111 for manual transmissions or SP108 for automatic transmissions. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 46

--

33

Repair the high resistance or open in the crank voltage circuit of the ST relay between the ST relay and S111 for manual transmissions or SP108 for automatic transmissions. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 46

--

34

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

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 46

--

35

Repair the high resistance or open in the crank voltage circuit of the ST Relay coil between the ST Relay and Starter Cut Relay. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 46

--

36

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

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 46

--

37

Repair the high resistance or open in the starter solenoid crank voltage circuit between the PNP switch and S111. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 46

--

38

Repair the high resistance or open in the starter solenoid crank voltage circuit between the CPP switch and SP108. Refer to Wiring Repairs .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 46

--

39

Replace the starter cut relay.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 46

--

40

Replace the ST relay. Refer to Starter Motor Relay Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 46

--

41

Replace the PNP switch. Refer to Park/Neutral Position Switch

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 46

--

42

Replace the CPP switch. Refer to Clutch Pedal Engine Start Switch Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 46

--

43

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

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 46

--

44

Replace the starter. Refer to Starter Motor Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 46

--

45

Replace the theft deterrent module. Refer to Theft Deterrent Module Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 46

--

46

Operate the system for which the symptom occurred.

Did you correct the condition?

System OK

Go to Step 4