The starter on the 2001 Chevy S-10 is dependent on three other engine components to ensure it works properly. The ignition switch sends power from the battery to the starter solenoid. The starter solenoid engages a small gear inside the starter and that gear turns the engine over so it can fire. If any of these components fail, your starter won't turn over.
Connect the black jumper cable onto a non-painted metal surface in the S-10's engine bay, like the strut bolt, and then connect the other end of the black jumper cable onto the negative battery terminal on the working car. Connect the red jumper cable onto the positive battery terminal on your S-10's battery and then place the other end of the red cable onto the positive battery terminal of the working vehicle.
Turn the working vehicle on and wait approximately five minutes for the working battery to charge your battery. After five minutes attempt to start the S-10. If the S-10 starts, charge the battery fully. If it still fails to start, disconnect the jumper cables and move on.
Turn on the headlights and turn the S-10's ignition key on. If the headlights do not dim, the ignition switch is defective. If the headlights dim, the ignition switch works properly because it sends power to the solenoid. If this is the case, move to the next step.
Locate the starter motor on the driver's side of the transmission housing and then locate the starter solenoid on top of the starter motor. On the back of the starter solenoid, you will locate two metal wire connectors. The left wire goes to the ignition switch. The right wire goes to the starter.
Place a metal screwdriver across both wire contacts and signal to the second person to turn the ignition key to the "on" position. Have them hold the key on for a period of 30 seconds. If the starter motor turns on and makes a humming sound, the starter motor is good and the solenoid is bad. If the S-10's starter motor fails to turn on, the starter motor is defective and the solenoid is good. As a note, when you place the screwdriver across the wire contacts, it keeps the solenoid from engaging the starter gear so the S-10 cannot start. The object is to run the starter motor, not the S10's engine.
