Chevrolet Lacetti Won’t Start: Top 14 Causes & Solutions

Turning the ignition and getting only silence instead of the engine cranking over is incredibly frustrating when you're sitting in your motionless Chevy. A Chevy that fails to start leaves you immobilized and uncertain about the cause. Fortunately, there are several well-known issues that can cause a Lacetti to not start, and you can repair many of them on your own or with a mechanic's help.

In this comprehensive guide, we're going to look at the top 14 causes your Chevrolet Lacetti doesn't start and offer useful tips to get your car started again.

Drained or Dead Battery

The most common cause a Chevy won't start is a dead or drained battery. Your battery delivers the initial burst of electricity to turn over the engine and get it started.

Signs of a dead battery:

• Silence upon turning the key – no engine cranking
• Electronics not powering on
• Hard time starting in cold weather

How to Fix It: Keep jumper cables available for a dead battery situation. Jump starting your Chevrolet Lacetti using a good battery or portable charger can supply enough juice to get it cranked.

You can also try cleaning corroded battery terminals if they prevent a good connection. If problems persist, have your battery tested – it may need replacing if worn out.

Faulty Alternator

If your battery tests fine but your Chevy Lacetti still won't turn over, the culprit may be a faulty alternator. This key component charges your battery when running and powers the electronics.

Signs of a bad alternator:

• Battery warning indicator illuminating
• Electronics dimming
• Difficulty starting, especially after short trips

The Fix: Get your alternator inspected immediately by a mechanic. A bad alternator can rapidly deplete your battery. This will need to be replaced by an experienced mechanic.

Faulty Spark Plugs

Spark plugs fire the fuel/air mixture in the cylinders to power your car. When they are dirty, bad, or corroded, your Lacetti may not start due to no spark.

Clues of bad spark plugs:

• Poor fuel economy
• Rough idle
• Engine hesitating

The Fix: Spark plugs need periodic replacement as they degrade. Most last 30k+ miles. Have your plugs checked and swap any bad ones. Using quality gas prevents buildup.

Ignition Problems

Problems with ignition components like the switch, lock cylinder, fob, or wiring can prevent your Chevy from cranking.

Signs of ignition trouble:

• No noise upon turning key
• Dashboard flickering
• Key won't turn

The Fix: For fob issues, replace the battery. For other problems, have the system inspected and repaired professionally. If you need a new Chevy key fob you can get one online here.

Starter Failure

The starter motor engages when you turn the key to crank the engine. If it's damaged, your Chevy Lacetti may not turn over.

Symptoms of a bad starter:

• No noise upon turning key
• Clicking but no cranking
• Unusual noises

The Fix: Have your starter tested and replaced if faulty. This requires the help of a professional mechanic to diagnose and repair.

Not in Park or Neutral

If your gearbox isn't in Park or Neutral, your Chevy's safety features will prevent it from cranking.

The Fix: Shift into Park/Neutral and try once more. If it only starts in one gear, you may have a faulty neutral safety switch needing repair. This will need to be repaired by a local mechanic near you.

Clogged Fuel Filter

A blocked fuel filter can restrict fuel flow to the engine, preventing your Chevrolet Lacetti from starting.

Symptoms of a clogged filter:

• Difficulty starting
• Engine sputtering
• Decreased fuel economy

The Fix: Replace the filter when due or if thought clogged. Use quality gas and change regularly. You can have a local mechanic repair this for you, or repair it yourself, maybe with the help and guidance of an online mechanic.

Bad or Failing Fuel Pump

The fuel pump transfers gas from the tank to the engine. If it fails, your Chevrolet won't start due to no fuel.

Signs of a bad pump:

• No pump noise upon turning key
• Hard time starting
• Stalling when running

The Fix: Have your pump tested. If faulty, a mechanic near you will need to replace it.

Low Engine Compression

Proper compression is required to combust the air/fuel mixture. Low compression from worn parts can cause a no start.

Signs of compression issues:

• Difficulty starting
• Rough idle
• Lack of power

The Fix: Testing can confirm low compression. For diagnostics and carrying out this repair, a local mechanic is usually needed and will have to replace the worn engine components.

Timing Belt Failure

The timing belt synchronizes the camshaft and crankshaft. If it snaps, the valves and pistons won't be timed properly and your Chevy Lacetti won't start.

Symptoms of a bad timing belt:

• No start
• Unusual clicking sound

The Fix: Have your belt checked and replaced immediately if broken. This requires a local professional mechanic to replace the timing belt of your Chevy Lacetti.

Detached or Loose Battery Cable

A loose battery cable can block electricity flow in your Chevy. This common problem can prevent starting.

Signs of a bad cable:

• Corroded terminals
• Power loss from wiggling cables
• Frayed wiring

The Fix: Scrub corroded terminals and tighten loose connections. Damaged cables need replacement. You can get expert Chevy mechanic advice and guidance online or with a local mechanic.

Bad Relays

Relays control power to components like the starter, fuel pump, and computer. Failure can prevent your Chevy Lacetti from starting or running right.

Identifying relay problems:

• Swap relays to test
• Have relays checked by a mechanic

The Fix: Faulty relays must be replaced, often after a larger diagnostic. You will likely need a local mechanic to diagnose if the faulty relay is preventing your Chevy from starting.

Empty Gas Tank

Running your tank bone dry can cause a no-start due to lack of fuel. This seems obvious however it often happens because of an inaccurate or broken fuel gauge.

The Fix: Keep your tank at least 1/4 full to avoid unexpected emptying. If issues persist, have your fuel sender unit checked by a professional mechanic.

Flooded Engine

Sometimes an engine can flood with too much fuel, preventing starting due to wet spark plugs. This is most common in older carbureted engines.

The Fix: Press the gas pedal fully and crank briefly to flush the system so the plugs can spark. If problems continue, have the carburetor adjusted by a professional local mechanic.

Top 3 Ways To Get a Mechanics Help

With so many potential issues for a no start situation, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact issue yourself. In some cases, using help from an experienced mechanic can save you time and give you peace of mind.

These are the 3 ways to get a mechanic's help in starting your Chevy again.

1. Local Auto Repair Garage Near You

This is the regular way to get it repaired, however, it can be very wasteful in time and money, transporting your vehicle to them, plus expensive garage fees as they often have expensive overhead costs etc, that they have to pass on to the customer.

2. A Mobile Mechanic Near You

Having a qualified mobile mechanic come to your Chevy and repair it on-site can be a great time and money saver. The best mobile mechanics we can recommend in the USA are RepairSmith and YourMechanic. We have recommended them thousands of times, and they both have great prices, services and coverage across most of the USA.

In the UK the best mobile mechanic we can recommend is Fixter, they will come pick up your car, take it get repaired, and deliver it back to you. You can get an instant free quote on their official websites by clicking the name. We have tested, vetted, and can heartedly recommend each of these services to get your Chevy Lacetti|Chevrolet Lacetti starting again ASAP.

3. Chat with a Chevy Mechanic Online

This is a wonderful option for most DIYers or car buff. It's many times  an easy repair you can do yourself, like switching out or charging the battery. In these cases, if you know what to do in a stepwise fashion, you can do it on your own, you are not required to pay a mechanic on-site. Well, it's your fortunate day, an online mechanic can supply all the assistance, guidance, and advice you need, immediately by online chat. You can then execute the straightforward fix yourself.

The best online mechanic we propose is JustAnswer, and through our link, you can get a free trial of their assistance for just $5, request endless questions for a week, get the help you require, and you are not obligated to continue the service after that. We adore JustAnswer for this purpose, expert auto mechanic assistance for just $5 is an unmatchable price.

The qualified mechanics at JustAnswer's Ask a Mechanic service are ready 24/7 to provide virtual troubleshooting and recommendations. The perks of consulting with a mechanic online are:

• Convenience: Get help from your house without having to schedule an appointment or wait at a shop.
• Fast answers; Mechanics reply in minutes with possible causes and solutions based on your description.
• Cost savings: Pay per question rather than full diagnostic fees – great for basic troubleshooting.
• Documentation: All conversations are saved in writing, providing helpful reference.
• Expert knowledge; Experienced licensed mechanics have the knowledge to solve Chevy Lacetti|Chevrolet Lacetti no starting issues with ease.

You will get matched with the best auto mechanic for your particular case, it doesn't matter if it's a Lacetti or your Chevrolet Lanos won't start, the expert Chevy mechanic you are paired with, will be the best for the job.

So next time you find yourself searching online for something like “Chevy stopped running while driving and wont start“, consider our talk to a Chrevrolet mechanic online for free service.  In just minutes, you can access expert Chevrolet knowledge to help get your beloved Lacetti starting again.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)