Lights left on during church. tried to jump, no clicking at the starter or turning of the engine. the oringal battery is still in this 2003 ion. from ground to big red cable on stater is 12 volts. when someone turns on key no voltage from ground on starter to little wire on starter. book says problem in the ingnition circuit. any ideas? we could also feel the silenoid click for the ingnition in the fuse box.

The clicking sound indicates that there is insufficient charge reaching the starter motor to turn over the engine. If you have enough charge going into the starter, use a multi-meter to check, test at no load and under load. Then check your terminals on the battery and starter to ensure all are clean and tightened properly.

How to voltage drop test starter motor circuit Looking at a wiring diagram an testing the starter circuit with a DMM - digital multi-meter is the way to find the problem . Free wiring diagram's here http://www.bbbind.com/free_tsb.html Enter vehicle info. year , make , model an engine size. Under system click on engine then under subsystem click on starting . Click the search button then the blue link .
Looking at the diagram you will see this starting circuit is computer controlled . Ignition switch is a low voltage input to the BCM - body control module. A message to the ECM - engine computer from the BCM requesting a start over the serial data network (class2) will energize the relay sending B+ voltage to the S terminal on the starter solenoid . Your best bet mite be to have it towed to a qualified repair shop.

try checking the connections at the battery if u haven't already! Is your check engine light on?

I have seen issues like this on other Honda's and the problem turned out to be the ignition starter switch. Do this, jumper power directly to the starter solenoid trigger wire and see if the engine cranks.

That sounds like battery--wiring-or starter. Check the battery voltage. It should be 12.6. volts with engine off. Clean the battery terminals.

Hi, this is what you should do when your car won't start. Diagnosing a no-start condition requires a logical approach to figuring out what might be preventing your car from starting. First, if the engine won't even crank over when you turn the ignition to START, your car obviously won't start.
When you turn the ignition key to start your car, voltage from the battery flows through the ignition switch to the Park/Neutral safety switch and/or brake pedal or clutch pedal safety switch (you have to push the pedal down before the circuit will complete) to the starter relay or solenoid. When the relay or solenoid is energized by voltage from the ignition switch circuit, it closes a contact that routes more power from the battery directly to the starter to crank the engine. The starter motor spins, pushes the starter drive gear to engage the flywheel and cranks the engine.

If the engine fails to crank, there is a fault in one of the components in the battery/ignition/starter circuit. Check it out.....

• Low battery (Check battery voltage, recharge if low, or jump start with another vehicle or battery charger).
• Loose or corroded battery cables (Inspect, clean and tighten BOTH ends of BOTH battery cables).
• Bad starter relay wiring connections or ground connection (Inspect, clean, tighten wiring connections).
• Bad starter relay/solenoid (Check for voltage at relay, if relay has voltage but there is no "click" when key is turned to start, replace relay).
• Bad starter (Jump battery voltage direct to starter to see if it spins, or remove starter and have it bench tested at auto parts store).
• Damaged starter drive or teeth on flywheel (Remove starter and inspect drive gear and flywheel teeth, replace damaged parts if necessary).
• Bad ignition switch (Check to see if voltage reaches starter relay/solenoid when turn to start. If not, check for open P/N switch and brake or clutch pedal switch. Replace ignition switch if defective).
• Open P/N safety switch, or open Brake Pedal Safety Switch (automatic transmission) or open Clutch Pedal Switch (manual transmission). Bypass switch with jumper wire to see if engine cranks, or use test light or voltmeter to check for voltage passing through switch when ignition is turned to start.
• Engine seized due to bearing failure or internal damage (Use socket and long handle to see if engine can be turned by hand, if not engine is locked up).
• Engine hydrolocked due to coolant leak from leaky head gasket (Use socket and wrench to see if engine rotates, remove spark plugs and see if coolant comes out or engine can not be cranked with plugs out).

Three possibilities I think:
First is weak battery. There may be enough juice to light the gauges but it takes power to turn an engine.

Second, bad solenoid. The solenoid is a relay which closes the high current circuit that delivers the cranking power to the starter motor. If you hear clicking in the engine compartment (not the starter) when you turn the ignition switch on it is probably the solenoid engaging and disengaging. However if the battery is weak it won't turn the starter motor. If the solenoid is clicking look at the battery first. The solenoid could be bad but the clicking indicates it's trying to work and there just may not be enough juice to turn over the engine.

Third possibility is the starter motor itself is dead. You have to answer some questions for yourself. Is this an old,neglected car or one that has been taken care of? I would be looking at battery. Can you jump start it? If yes then weak battery is the likely problem. If the car and battery are relatively new and in good condition you should suspect the charging system, that is, the alternator. Did this happen all of a sudden on a car that was running fine recently or has the car been sitting idle for weeks/months.Eliminate the easy stuff.
Clean battery terminals?
Good battery connections and ground?
Try jump start - if yes then follow up battery/charging system. If no start then try to hear for solenoid clicking. If jump start does nothing -figure the solenoid first. If it sounds like solenoid is kicking in but engine does not turn then the starter is looking a little guilty. Jump starting will answer a lot of questions. If the car is really dead then the car that is jumping may have to be connected and revved up a couple minutes to juice up the dead battery enough to turn the starter over. If it turns over a little during the jump start but just barely then you should figure your battery is bad.

you may not have a good connection on the battery cables or they may need to be cleaned and or replaced

You need to charge your battery up more. Either get a battery charger or leave the jumper cables hooked up for a longer period of time.
Your battery was probably completely dead. You might even need a new battery...they really don't like to be completely drained.

Today 11-12-08 my 2003 H2 Hummer would not start. Checked battery it ischarged. Cables tight. Tried to start with portable booster pak. No go. Tridto jump start with my wife's Suburban. Still no go.
When I turn the switch I hear a single click and that is it. No engine turning over. While trying to start with key the headlights go out. Out of ideas, Will take to Chevy garage in am. Will post solution.