OK so its my sisters 2005 Chevrolet cavalier I am having a problem with. She locked up the original motor at 217k miles and purchased a new/used L61 motor for it with the EGR inside the head. The problem is that the new engine will not start or turn. It has a new starter and battery. When the key is to turned to start the car it will click once then do nothing. It will not crank or start. We took the starter out and had it tested and it tested fine. We hooked the starter back up but did not put it in the transmission and tried starting the car. The starter gear came out but turned slowly. Put it back in and still does the same thing. Does anyone have an idea as to why the new motor will not crank or start? Is the starter suppose to turn faster than it is? Again the battery is new and the starter is new. Both tested fine. When the key is turned it clicks once and that's it.

 

What tranny are you using? Auto or Manual?

If it's an auto - are you sure it is in park or neutral?

With all this computer crap these days - is there any feedback from the trans to the computer that it is in park and the brake is on?

 

It's an auto tranny and it is in park with the ebrake on. We tried starting it in neutral but had the same results. No cels. All fuses good. When we took the starter out and tried cranking it, it was slow at turning. Isn't it suppose to spin quick to crank the motor? Could it be an anti theft problem? The anti theft light turns off after a few seconds and the only light that stays on is the cel, oil light, and battery light.