Starting System: Diagnosis Pontiac Vibe I

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION WITH THEFT DETERRENT

When the ignition switch is placed in the Start position 12 volts is supplied through the Park/Neutral Position Switch or Clutch Pedal Position switch to the switch and coil side of the Starter Cut Relay. If theft is not active the Theft Deterrent Module grounds the control side of the Starter Cut Relay closing its switch. Power then travels to the coils side of the ST Relay with ground at G200 closing the ST Relay. Power then flows from the Main fuse in the Fuse Block - Underhood through the switch side of the ST Relay and then to the S terminal of the Starter Solenoid. Ground is found through the engine block.

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION WITHOUT THEFT DETERRENT

When the ignition switch is placed in the Start position 12 volts is supplied through the Park/Neutral Position Switch or Clutch Pedal Position switch to the switch and coil side of the ST Relay with ground at G200 closing the ST Relay. Power then flows from the Main fuse in the Fuse Block - Underhood through the switch side of the ST Relay and then to the S terminal of the Starter Solenoid. Ground is found through the engine block.

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

Scheme 4

Scheme 5

DIAGNOSTIC STARTING POINT - ENGINE ELECTRICAL

Begin the system diagnosis by reviewing the following Description and Operations.

1. See «DESCRIPTION & OPERATION»(ref-168689-S29785435862004111500000) .
2. See «DESCRIPTION & OPERATION»(ref-168287-S34015841002004110300000) in GENERATORS & REGULATORS in CHARGING SYSTEM in ELECTRICAL.

Reviewing the Description and Operation information will help you determine the correct symptom diagnostic procedure when a malfunction exists. Reviewing the Description and Operation information will also help you determine if the condition described by the customer is normal operation. See

SYMPTOM DIAGNOSIS

in order to identify the correct procedure for diagnosing the system.

SYMPTOM DIAGNOSIS

Review the system operation in order to familiarize yourself with the system functions. Refer to the following

1. See «DESCRIPTION & OPERATION»(ref-168689-S29785435862004111500000) .
2. See «DESCRIPTION & OPERATION»(ref-168287-S34015841002004110300000) in GENERATORS & REGULATORS in CHARGING SYSTEM in ELECTRICAL.

Visual/Physical Inspection

1. Inspect for aftermarket devices which could affect the operation of the starting, charging or ignition systems.
2. Inspect the easily accessible or visible system components for obvious damage or conditions which could cause the symptom.
3. Inspect the battery for correct installation and physical damage.
4. Test the condition of the battery. See «BATTERY TESTING & INSPECTION»(ref-168287-S17006183932004110300000) under ON-VEHICLE TESTING in GENERATORS & REGULATORS in CHARGING SYSTEM in ELECTRICAL.
5. Inspect the wiring for damage. Inspect the connections to the starter motor, the starter solenoid, the ignition switch, the battery and all related ground points
6. When the charging system is operating normally, the charge indicator lamp will come on when the ignition switch is turned on and will go out when the engine starts.
7. Inspect the generator for loose or improper mounting and the generator drive belt for correct installation.
8. Inspect the generator drive belt for correct installation.

Symptom List

See following list for diagnostic procedures

1. «STARTER SOLENOID DOES NOT CLICK»(ref-168689-S13233653972004111600000) .
2. «STARTER SOLENOID CLICKS, ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK.»(ref-168689-S07493958062004111600000)
3. «ENGINE CRANKS SLOWLY»(ref-168689-S22054532692004111600000) .
4. «STARTER MOTOR NOISY»(ref-168689-S17387281432004111600000) .

Diagnostic Aids

Inspect the flywheel ring gear for damage or unusual wear.

Shim the starter as required.

In order to add pinion to ring gear clearance a full size shim must be used. Do not shim only one starter mounting bolt. There are 3 shims available in different shapes, for clearance, all are 1 mm (0.039 in) thick.

Test Procedure

1. Did you review the Diagnostic Starting Point for Engine Electrical and perform the necessary inspections? If yes, go to next step. If no, see «DIAGNOSTIC STARTING POINT - ENGINE ELECTRICAL»(ref-168689-S35695243382004111600000) .
2. Start the engine. Does the starter operate normally? If yes, see «TESTING FOR INTERMITTENT AND POOR CONNECTIONS»(ref-168689-S14752012402004111600000) . If no, go to next step.
3. Start the engine while listening to the starter motor turn. Is there a loud "whoop?" It may sound like a siren if the engine is revved while the starter is engaged, after the engine starts, but while the starter is still held in the engaged position. If yes, go to step 6 . If no, go to next step.
4. Do you hear a "rumble", a "growl", or, in some cases, a "knock" as the starter is coasting down to a stop after starting the engine? If yes, go to 7 . If no, go to next step.
5. When the engine is cranked, do you hear a high-pitched whine after the engine cranks and starts normally? This is often diagnosed as a starter drive gear hang-in or a weak solenoid. If yes, go to 8 . If no, go to step 7 .
6. Inspect the flywheel ring gear for the following: Chipped gear teeth Missing gear teeth Milled teeth Is the flywheel bent, or does it have damaged teeth? If yes, go to step 9 . If no, go to step 10 .
7. Remove the starter motor. See «STARTER»(ref-168689-S19361666742004111600000) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Inspect the starter motor bushings and clutch gear. Does the clutch gear have chipped or milled teeth or worn bushings? If yes, go to step 10 . If no, go to step 9 .
8. Shim the starter motor away from the flywheel by adding shims between the starter motor and the engine block one at a time. Flywheel runout may make this noise appear to be intermittent. Go to step 11 .
9. Replace the flywheel. See appropriate REMOVAL & INSTALLATION article in TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION.
10. Replace the starter motor. See «STARTER»(ref-168689-S19361666742004111600000) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
11. Operate the system in order to verify the repair. Did you correct the condition? If no, go back to step 3 .

Preliminary Inspection

Most intermittent conditions are caused by faulty electrical connections or wiring. Inspect for the following items

1. Wiring broken inside the insulation.
2. Poor connection between the male and female terminal at a connector.
3. Poor terminal to wire connection - Some conditions which fall under this description are poor crimps, poor solder joints, crimping over the wire insulation rather than the wire itself and corrosion in the wire to terminal contact area, etc.
4. Wire insulation which is rubbed through - This causes an intermittent short as the bare area touches other wiring or parts of the vehicle.

Testing For Proper Terminal Contact

It is important to test terminal contact at the component and any inline connectors before replacing a suspect component. Mating terminals must be inspected to ensure good terminal contact. A poor connection between the male and female terminal at a connector may be the result of contamination or deformation.

Contamination may be caused by the connector halves being improperly connected. A missing or damaged connector seal, damage to the connector itself, or exposing the terminals to moisture and dirt can also cause contamination. Contamination, usually in the underhood or underbody connectors, leads to terminal corrosion, causing an open circuit or intermittently open circuit.

Deformation is caused by probing the mating side of a connector terminal without the proper adapter. Other causes of terminal deformation are improperly joining the connector halves, or repeatedly separating and joining the connector halves. Deformation, usually to the female terminal contact tang, can result in poor terminal contact causing an open or intermittently open circuit.