JamesTheScot
New member
Last night I went out to leave the house and it wouldn't start. All lights came on per normal but when the key is turned, nothing as far as the starter goes. It had started earlier that day on multiple occasions.
I had the battery tested (2 years old) and Autozone said it was still tip top. The overhead dome light does NOT dim when I turn the key but the radio/clock (stock) display does cut out until I return key to running position.
I have also tried starting in neutral (automatic), jiggling the shifter when in "park" and moving the shifter back and forth through all positions between start attempts to see if the NSS was the problem. But still nothing.
I think I can hear the injectors priming when I turn to on - there's a slight, short whining noise right in front of me on the other side of the firewall.
Possibly unrelated, but I have had problems from time to time with it cranking but not firing when I cut off the vehicle and try to restart a few minutes later. I'd have to pump the gas to get it to fire up or wait a bit. Not sure if it's a fuel or oil fouling issue but I think that's unrelated to this no-crank issue.
Also, the ignition cylinder will turn regardless of the key's orientation. The steering column still locks and unlocks as it should, but I don't have to flip the key after unlocking the door as I used to. And that's new.
Also, last oil change resulted in a broken oil sending unit which I had to replace. The engine leaked a lot of oil out into the compartment before I could find a replacement and get it installed. And the starter is right under it, right?
Also, every once in awhile (once a month or so), the negative ground will short when I turn the key and everything goes dead. But jiggling the negative terminal cable always restores power and it starts.
So, I'm leaning towards dirty or dead starter, a bad switch in the steering column or some kind of short or connection issue between the battery and the starter.
This happened two weeks ago under similar cold/wet conditions but then it started all of a sudden after I messed with the shifter and gave me no issues for past two weeks. But this time it's no go after 24 hours and multiple jiggles. So I think it starting after the shifter jiggle two weeks ago was just a coincidence.
Any shortcuts or tests that would quickly narrow my suspects?
I had the battery tested (2 years old) and Autozone said it was still tip top. The overhead dome light does NOT dim when I turn the key but the radio/clock (stock) display does cut out until I return key to running position.
I have also tried starting in neutral (automatic), jiggling the shifter when in "park" and moving the shifter back and forth through all positions between start attempts to see if the NSS was the problem. But still nothing.
I think I can hear the injectors priming when I turn to on - there's a slight, short whining noise right in front of me on the other side of the firewall.
Possibly unrelated, but I have had problems from time to time with it cranking but not firing when I cut off the vehicle and try to restart a few minutes later. I'd have to pump the gas to get it to fire up or wait a bit. Not sure if it's a fuel or oil fouling issue but I think that's unrelated to this no-crank issue.
Also, the ignition cylinder will turn regardless of the key's orientation. The steering column still locks and unlocks as it should, but I don't have to flip the key after unlocking the door as I used to. And that's new.
Also, last oil change resulted in a broken oil sending unit which I had to replace. The engine leaked a lot of oil out into the compartment before I could find a replacement and get it installed. And the starter is right under it, right?
Also, every once in awhile (once a month or so), the negative ground will short when I turn the key and everything goes dead. But jiggling the negative terminal cable always restores power and it starts.
So, I'm leaning towards dirty or dead starter, a bad switch in the steering column or some kind of short or connection issue between the battery and the starter.
This happened two weeks ago under similar cold/wet conditions but then it started all of a sudden after I messed with the shifter and gave me no issues for past two weeks. But this time it's no go after 24 hours and multiple jiggles. So I think it starting after the shifter jiggle two weeks ago was just a coincidence.
Any shortcuts or tests that would quickly narrow my suspects?