why will the starter only click.

make sure the battery is ok. other than that, the starter armature is bad

Roy

When i have jumper cables on it does the same thing and i checked the voltage when
I try to start and it goes down to like4.78 volts.and the head lights stay on till the battery dies

SEE "MY 1ST ANSWER" IN THIS POST

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1993-pontiac-grand-wont-start-clicking-relay-lights-gauges-flicker

LET US KNOW HOW IT'S A GOIN'

THE MEDIC

Why does my lights stay on.can the starter go out with no warning.

No offense but from a 1993 to 2001 comparison especially when were talking about head lights staying on and the starter circuit.There has been a lot of changes in technology the way the circuits run parts involved etc.

So you are saying the starter is bad or the battery...this my only transportation so i am trying to fix it right the first time.

Do you have a test light?

I have a volt meter

A test light would be better but see if you have battery voltage to the purple wire at the starter.

No volts at purple wire at starter. With key in the on position

Iam sorry with the key in the start position.

No volts with key in on position...

Alright do you mean the start position the key is in?

I left the keyOn like you are starting it..

(HE MEANS HAVE SOMEONE "HOLD THE SPRING LOADED" KEY ALL THE WAY CLOCKWISE [THE WHOLE TIME]....AS IF YOU WANT THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER[CRANK].....WHILE YOU CHECK FOR VOLTAGE ON THE WIRE)

SORRY IF I SEEM SORTA .....WHATEVER

THE MEDIC

Thats what i did and i get nothing

No power to purple wire whats that mean

Alright at the neutral safety switch on the transmission with the key in the start position you should have battery voltage on the yellow wire and purple wire.Let me know what you find.

Have power to yellow but not purple.

Try starting the car shifted into neutral

The purple wire goes to the starter so far its looking like a bad neutral safety switch.

I car hear the starter clicking with the car in nuetral a d trying to start it

It looks like a bad neutral safety switch from what you have told me as far as the no power on the purple wire but have it on the yellow wire.

So if i hax power to both wires it would be the starter

Not if the purple wire at the starter doesnt have power with the key in the start position.

Changed a fuse and now got power to both purple and yellow wire.with someone holding key as if they are starting car and the starter still just clicks.

Do you have battery voltage at the purple wire at the starter with the key in the start position?

Yes i do...and thats with someone turning the key all the way trying to start it..

CAN YOU TURN THE ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT AT LEAST ONE FULL REVOLUTION BY HAND (WITH A WRENCH OR SOCKET)....(TAKE THE KEY COMPLETELY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE YOU DO THIS)

THIS IS A TEST TO SEE IF THE ENGINE IS "STUCK", "BINDING" OR "LOCKED UP"

THIS PIC IS OF MY JEEP CJ 5.....THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE....YOURS SHOULD BE SORTA SIMILAR TO MINE

THE MEDIC

It want turn a complete circle but almost...the car was running fine..no knocking and it was not low on oil or run hot...funny thing is when i turn it as far as i can and try it...it makes the sound like it wants to start and then it stops and clicks...could the starter not be strong enough?

Will the engine turn over by hand?

I can turn it a little with my bare hands but i can do it pretty easy with a wrench...

You said you tested the starter at one point how did you test the starter?Also do you have a test light to do some testing?

IMMA ABOUT TO HIT THE SACK SHORTLY

I'LL GIVE YOU SOME REALLY GOOD INFO......IF IT COMES DOWN TO THIS

SATURNTECH9 WILL GUIDE YOU ON THRU THIS

KEEP THIS IN MIND IF YOU NEED THE STARTER, I'M THROWING THIS AT YOU....BEFORE YOU JUST RUN OUT AND GET ONE

(I'LL THEN BECOME YOUR BESTUS BUDDY!)....BELOW, SEEMS TO BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE....I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH USING REMANS

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_starter-worldwide_19220272-p?searchTerm=starter

INSURE I INSTALLED YOUR INFORMATION CORRECTLY TO FIND THIS (2001 GRAND AM W/ 2.4L)

THE PART NUMBER IS ALL YOU NEED TO PUT IN THE SEARCH BOX WHEN YOU START THE PROCESS TO PAY FOR THIS ONLINE (PROMO CODE "FABU" STILL WORKED LAST NIGHT WHEN I DID THIS TO GET A RADIATOR FOR MY MOM LAST NIGHT....WILL SAVE YOU $40 ON ANYTHING OVER $100...I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS CODE EXPIRES)

SEE HOW THIS WORKS, SEE MY 5TH AND 6TH ANSWERS ON September 03, 2012, IN THIS POST

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1977-jeep-cj7-front-wheel-wont-into-4-low

I'VE SLUNG THIS OUT TO SEVERAL QUESTION ASKERS...NOBODY HAS RETURNED WITH A GRIN YET?

IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS I HAVE PURCHASED 2 BATTERIES, AN ALTERNATOR AND A RADIATOR....HAVE SAVED $160 THUS FAR!

I'M KINDA PUMPED UP ON THIS THING, IT WORKS FOR OTHER STORES (NOT JUST AUTO PARTS)...I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT IT.....MY MISSION HERE IS TO HELP, I TRY TO IN ANY WAY I CAN

TOO BAD YOU DON'T HAVE A JEEP CJ

I'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ALONG....SEEMS I HAVE 30 MILE TRIP FOR FEDERAL JURY DUTY SELECTION IN THE MORNING

LET ME KNOW IF THIS HELPS YOU

THE MEDIC

First time i took it to part store they said it was fine....then i used my volt meter to test the main wire from my battery and it was good and then i had someone to turn the key all the way like the car was being started and had volts to the yellow and the purple wire...

Do you have a test light to do some checking?

Ok..got a test light and i am getting power to the purple wire at the while someone is trying to start the car(not real brite)...so then i went to the yellow wire on the plug tbat sits on top of the transmission and with someone trying to start the car i am getting nothing.

I dont see how thats possible it comes into the neutral safety switch from the ignition on the yellow wire then comes out as the purple wire.

Had trouble with the security system..the board was wet so i went and got another one could the car be telling itself its getting stolen...

DOES THIS AID YOU IN WHAT'S BEING TESTED?

THE MEDIC