Your starter solenoid is failing (failed). Give your starter a whack with a crowbar/hammer when it happens and it will get you by for a little while until you replace it.

Or,

Your alternator has failed or your battery has failed. Will it start if you jump it?

It could be a bad battery, cold temperatures and original battery don't mix. As a battery ages it will lose capacity to charge and retain enough capacity to start the car.

One good way to check if battery is weak or low on charge is to turn on the head lights and watch them as you attempt to start the engine. With a good battery and no starting problems they will dim just a little as the engine starts. A bad battery or low/no charge on the battery the lights will dim very much or go out all together with keys in the crank position, the engine will slowly turn over or the starter will click like ratchet sound. Last if starter/solenoid is bad the lights may dim a little and starter may just click each time the key is turned to start position.

Also check the battery terminals for corrosion and or loose connections and ground cable attaches to the motor.

This is just a quick and dirty trouble shooting guide.

Hope this helps

Charles

I'd suspect (1) poor connections (2) a dead cell in battery (3) bad Alternator (4) bad field in starter (5) all or any combination there of

Funny you should happen to post this. My 2001 Cavalier just did the same thing. But mine gave no warning except for the radio going goofy last week.

I would do the easiest thing first. Chances are you still have the original battery, so its time to replace it anyway. Pull the battery and take it to the local auto parts store they will run a charge and load test on it for free. While your at it clean the contacts if needed. Mine was fully charged but was still considered bad. For some reason it would take a charge but not release it. Still haven't figure that one out.????

From time to time you may also find out that the battery lead going to the starter has a loose connection on the starter end,down where you cant see it. If a hot battery wont start it, before you go replacing things, crawl under it safely(park over a ditch if you dont have proper jacks and ramps to make it safe) and make sure the wires are all on the starter tight enough not to move at the nut,and that the smaller wires have good connections where they attatch on the starter too.I have had this happen a few times over the years and thought i needed a new starter or battery> Your car battery is probably dead by now, so like said before, have it charged and tested then try it with all the wires attatched well. Dont flame me,anyone, it sounds like he is just starting out messing with car problems, so i avoided correct part names and descriptions.If it still just buzzes after you have tightned all the wires,at the starter end too, you may need a new starter.If you are broke,sometimes you can get by with taking the starter apart somewhat,cleaning and oiling it all down and putting it back together,especially if it has had oil leaking on it a long time(forget if that one catches oil leaks like ford will,but they are fairly cheap, i believe,for that car. Most big parts places will test the starter for you free,as well,once you bring it in off of the car.Someone else in here can type out how to "jump"the solenoid if you decide to do that test to make sure your key switch is actually still working ok.Between this and the previous posts,you should be on the road again quickly

Had that happen to me; internal connection at the NEG post cracked until less than 20% of original. Took a charge, voltage tested great until load applied.

If you want superior life from your battery, put it on an automatic / trickle charger overnight 3 or 4 times a year. Your alternator only maintains the charge in the battery, and your computers slowly but surely drain it away.

Well if it just clicks that would indicate that the battery is dead or in a low state of charge! You should try to boost it with another battery! or use a battery charger. I would check out for bad connections at the battery.at the positive & negitive posts!.on the battery & on the cable ends! I would also check at the starter! I cant remeber but if there is a soliniod I would also check there also for a dirty connection! After checking out all the connections! I would charge the battery up the if you have a place where you can get the battery load tested & then if it isnt bad then check your gauge if you have one on your dash to see if your car is charging!? if you dont have a gauge & only have a light then the same place that you got your battery checked out you could get the alternator checked out to see if it is charging! Also make sure that you have not left anthing on!posibly a interior light or something like that!?

Does it click once or many times once its the starter many times it is the battery

it does not have enough power to hold in the starter relay The battery reserve power decreases when the weather gets cold a simple laod test on the battery can tell the real story

mfire

The car jumped right away. Took it to autozone to have battery tested and they said it was bad. Don't understand when the battery is less than a year old though. But, I did buy a jumper box just in case it happens again.

Jeff