Automotive → 09 Pontiac G6 start failure

I used the car to go to a job interview last monday, when i tried to start it last thursday it would not crank, only you could hear a faint click, my friend beleives it is a starter Relay, but im not sure.

I just want to know before i go buy the part.

Battery's dead. Jump it then bring it by an Advance Auto or Autozone and have them test it (free). Could be the alternator died, or you left something on (i.e. headlights) or plugged into the cigarette lighter.

/M

after i posted this i went back out to try it again, it started, but it was a random start i cant get it to start again. have already tried getting a boost.

My guess to is starter relay,try crawling under the car and tapping the starter lightly with a hammer.

You only tap a starter when the starter itself is binding from being full of brush dust/commutator dust from lots of use/lots of internal wear as it temporarily frees the bind allowing the starter to turn. The relay is not in the starter. The starter will bind up again if not rebuilt or replaced.

May be your battery cables, you can place a jumper cable from the positive terminal to the starter to test it out.

When was the last time you cleaned the battery's side post terminals?

so

Its the Terminals, tried cleaning them, if i wiggle them and try to start it cranks up, thanks for all the help guys

(going to get new wires and try cleaning them again) tommorow, poopeddd

If you can wiggle or move side terminal cables then the battery terminal bolts are too loose and it sounds like the last person who worked on the cables didn't tighten the side terminal bolts with the proper torque.

Tool Tip: Always use a 6 point box end wrench or 6 point ratcheting box end wrench on the side terminal bolt. Never use a 12 point box end wrench or the open end of any wrench as they will slip and round off the terminal bolts hex shape preventing getting them tightened correctly. New side terminal bolts are available at all parts stores if your bolts are rounded off on the hex.

I once had a side-terminal battery where you could wiggle the positive cable not because the bolt was loose, but because the whole terminal cracked and pulled right out of the battery case. This stranded me in a fast-food parking lot, but, fortunately, there was a tire store on the next block which had a suitable battery in stock; I managed to walk there about 5 minutes before they were ready to close for the day (really cutting it close).

Yes that can happen when over-torqued. It is a lead terminal after all.

That and cross threading is why I hate side terminal batts. Hate telling people they ruined their $200 optima battery.

I always gently tightened the terminal bolts using an end wrench that was only about 3" long, but previous owners of the vehicle may not have been so careful.