I have a 2000 Chevy Cavalier 2.2L Automatic. Tried starting it and nothing works. What DOES WORK are the headlights, horn, door chime, brake lights, tail lights, hazards, and the interior lights. No idiot lights, radio, heater/fan, and doesn't turn over. Battery is charged. I also put a screw driver to the posts of the starter and it sparked, so juice is going to the starter. I know that it is something electrical. What puzzles me is that not even a idiot light comes on, even when I turn on the headlights, the dash lights turns on as well and that didn't come on. Does anyone know what I should look for or check? Has anyone heard of a Relay that goes bad where GM had a recall once? No answer is a stupid answer unless you tell me to check my antifreeze. Thanks!
Ignition switch may be bad. The Radio, Idiot Lights, Heater/fan only work with the ignition switch on. All the other lights, horn, door chime, etc work weather the key is on or not.
Check your fuses. Those that are under the hood and inside your car. If they are good then you'll need to test the power in your power distributor box to make sure the proper amount of electric charge is being sent to various fuses.
You need to make sure you're getting spark and fuel to the engine. Pull out a spark plug and attach it to the spark plug wire and crank the engine, look at the spark plug for a spark. Next make sure you've got fuel, this i'm too sure about, but there should be some hoses running to the fuel rail, loosen those up and make sure fuel is going in. Personally I doubt you have spark and it's probably your ignition coil or something in your distributor. Also, rent a diagnostic tool and see what codes your ecu is throwing. This is usually the best route, but you will usually need to leave a deposit first.
The ignition switch feeds power to your starter and your instrument cluster ( which is all your idiot lights). I would check for power at the ignition switch located on the steering column behind the ignition key tumbler. You should have power going into the switch at the red wire and power going out when the key is turned to the start or run position on yellow wire. Check the wires with either a DVOM or a power probe. I suspect you have a bad ignition switch. It is a 10 pin connector at the switch the Red and dark blue are battery wires so there is always power at those two. it should have power at the others when the key is turned on and to the yellow at the start position that goes to the starter.
Check your underhood fuse panel. Great place to start. It appears you have lost a portion of the power supply to your ignition switch. All the components you have that presently work are not controlled by the ignition switch. The 50 amp ignition fuse would be the first one to check. Keep us informed. Whoever gave the thumbs down isn't being fair. It was a valid answer. No mention of checking the fuse panel was made before the answer was given. No wonder good techs don't bother here much. I don't care to be insulted either. Other techs here have given the answer of an ignition switch issue. It is a good possibility. First I would check to verify that power was getting to the switch before replacement. Glad to see you took the time to verify power to switch. You did it the proper way ! Good stuff.
