Chevrolet Lumina APV Won’t Start: Top 14 Causes & Solutions

The silence that fills your inactive Chevy when you turn the key and it won't start can be extremely annoying. A Chevy that won't start leaves you stranded and clueless about the issue. The good news is that a number of familiar culprits make a Lumina APVs fail to start, and you can fix a lot of them yourself or with a mechanic's assistance.

In this comprehensive guide, we're going to look at the top 14 causes your Chevy Lumina APV doesn't start and provide useful suggestions to get your car started again.

Drained or Dead Battery

The most common reason a Chevy won't start is a dead or weak battery. Your battery provides the initial burst of electricity to crank the engine and get it started.

Indications of a dead battery:

• Silence upon turning the key – no clicking or turnover
• Electronics not powering on
• Difficulty starting in cold weather

How to Fix It: Keep jumper cables available for a dead battery emergency. Jump starting your Chevy Lumina APV using another vehicle or jump box can deliver enough charge to get it started.

You can also try cleaning dirty battery terminals that are blocking a good connection. If problems persist, have your battery tested – it may need recharging if old.

Faulty Alternator

If your battery checks out but your Chevrolet Lumina APV still won't crank, the issue may be a bad alternator. This key component charges your battery while driving and energizes the electronics.

Signs of a bad alternator:

• Battery warning indicator illuminating
• Lights dimming
• Hard time starting, especially after short trips

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

Bad or Fouled Spark Plugs

Spark plugs ignite the fuel/air mixture in the cylinders to run your car. When they are dirty, bad, or corroded, your Lumina APV may not start due to no spark.

Clues of bad spark plugs:

• Poor fuel economy
• Rough idle
• Engine hesitating

The Fix: Spark plugs need regular replacement as they wear out. Most last 30k+ miles. Have your plugs checked and swap any bad ones. Using quality gas helps avoid buildup.

Ignition Problems

Issues with parts like the switch, lock cylinder, fob, or wiring can prevent your Chevrolet from cranking.

Symptoms of ignition trouble:

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

The Fix: For fob issues, try 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 start the engine. If it's damaged, your Chevy Lumina APV may not crank.

Symptoms of a bad starter:

• No noise upon turning key
• Clicking but no cranking
• Unusual grinding or whining

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

Transmission Not in Park/Neutral

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

The Fix: Shift into Park/Neutral and try again. 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 clogged fuel filter can constrain fuel delivery to the engine, preventing your Chevrolet Lumina APV from starting.

Signs of a clogged filter:

• Difficulty starting
• Engine misfiring
• Decreased fuel economy

The Fix: Change the filter when due or if thought clogged. Use quality gas and change often. 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 sound upon turning key
• Hard time starting
• Stalling after starting

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

Low Engine Compression

Proper compression is needed to combust the air/fuel mixture. Low compression from damage can cause a no start.

Symptoms of compression issues:

• Hard time 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 keeps the camshaft and crankshaft. If it snaps, the valves and pistons aren't synchronized properly and your Chevrolet Lumina APV won't start.

Symptoms of a bad timing belt:

• No start
• Unusual ticking noise

The Fix: Have your belt inspected and fixed right away if broken. This requires a local professional mechanic to replace the timing belt of your Chevy Lumina APV.

Loose or Detached Battery Cable

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

Signs of a bad cable:

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

The Fix: Clean 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 Lumina APV 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.

Low Fuel or Empty Tank

Running your tank completely empty 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.

Engine Flooding

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 clear 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 causes for a no start problem, it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause yourself. In some cases, using aid 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 Lumina APV|Chevrolet Lumina APV starting again ASAP.

3. Chat with a Chevy Mechanic Online

This is a wonderful possibility for most DIYers or car aficionados. It's many times  an easy fix you can do yourself, like switching out or charging the battery. In these situations, if you understand what to do in a stepwise fashion, you can do it on your own, you are not required to pay a mechanic locally. Alright, it's your lucky day, an online mechanic can supply all the assistance, advice, and advice you require, right away by online chat. You can then execute the straightforward mend on your own.

The top 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 assistance you require, and you are not obligated to continue the service after that. We love JustAnswer for this purpose, professional auto mechanic assistance for just $5 is an unbeatable price.

The licensed mechanics at JustAnswer's Ask a Mechanic service are ready 24/7 to provide remote diagnostics and recommendations. The perks of querying a mechanic online are:

• Convenience: Get help from the comfort of your residence without having to schedule an appointment or wait at a shop.
• Fast replies; Mechanics answer back quickly with potential reasons 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; Seasoned licensed mechanics have the know-how to troubleshoot Chevy Lumina APV|Chevrolet Lumina APV 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 Lumina APV or your Chevrolet LUV D-MAX 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 “my Chevy starts but wont move when in drive“, consider our ask Chrevrolet mechanic now service.  In just minutes, you can access expert Chevrolet knowledge to help get your beloved Lumina APV going again.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)