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I have a 2001 Chevy Malibu and It wont even crank it just clicks when i turn the key. So Im thinking its the starter and im trying to change it but i cant seem to get the bottom panel off to get to it. I can see the starter but i just cant get to it. Can someone/anyone please help me  

before changing the starter... you need to verify that the battery cables are clean... behind the bolts.. and that the cables don't wiggle ...    

you should also check the state of charge of the battery..

if the battery is low... or the cables are dirty.. the starter may just click...

you also need to take the end of the negative cable off the engine block clean the end with a stainless steel wire tooth brush from the hardware store or some sand paper..   if the ground cable is dirty at the block..  the starter won't work also..

if you have a digital volt meter.. you can check the battery voltage..  

a fully charged battery should read 12.65 volts..
a half charged battery will read 12.45 volts.
a quarter charged battery will read 12.25 volts.. the starters will usually not work with less than a quarter charge on the battery..


i went looking for information on removing the starter... i did find that the flat rate book calls for an hour for a professional... and the quickest they have done them is 40 minutes.. so its not that easy...   usually on other gm cars... you take one end of the torque strut loose..and rock the motor up slightly. giving you more room for the starter access...  

Okay so I put on a new starter and bought a new battery and installed both. Now it just cranks but does not turn over. Im completely lost. And dont know where to go from here and dont have a lot of money so I'm hoping its not the alternator. Any ideas as to where to go from here.  

alternators will not stop it from running...

when you had the starter off ... did you manage to unplug or damage the plug that goes to the little black device sticking in the side of the block???? that device is the crank sensor... the engine won't run if you have banged it up...

i have a question...   you describe it cranks.. but does not turn over...    cranking and turning over in my mind means the same thing...

cranking usually means the starter is turning the crankshaft using battery power and controlled by you holding the key all the way forward...


running means.. the engine is running on its own..   the key was released to the run position.. the starter is not moving but the engine is running and the car can now be driven if you choose...

the alternator only works with the engine running...   the belt spinning the alternator allows the alternator with its internal circuitry to generate power to charge the battery.. so it has no effect on how the car starts...  


look around..  make sure that everything is plugged in..     all the sensor...   all the wires...   ALL THE GROUND WIRES>. including the ones right above the starter on the bell housing..

remember...  it takes a complete circuit for everything to work...    power and a ground..     if you leave off ground wires... the circuit will not be connected...     would a table lamp work ... if you cut one wire to it????      would your home computer work.. if you cut one of the power wires to it.. nope....   so leaving off any ground wires... just because they are a ground wire...  will result in things not working.

most items in the car.,.. that control the engine.. are grounded to the engine ... and only to the engine...   so grounds left off...  cause things not to work..