heres what is happenin, i can turn it on and all the lil red lights light up, but when i fully turn the key no go, all power is connected but it just wont turn over, like it doesnt even try, batter is not dead otherwise it would sound like its havin a hard time turnnin over, and i also tested it and its prety much full .... any suggestions... its a 1980... if that helps.

 

Start with the battery terminals and check for loose connections to the starter. What I suppose is going on is there is a bad contact and it is letting enough juice to light your dash but too much resistance to crank it. also don't rule out the battery or the starter either.

 

pump gas (to the floor) twice while key is on at half turn then start it up..full choke out

i dunno im a newbie but it works for me

 

Get underneath the car and have a look at the connections to the starter. There is one particular connection that is the likely culprit - it's the smallest one, the solenoid connection I believe - it is a small plastic-bodied connector that just slides onto a flat metal terminal (it isn't secured more permanently like the rest of them).

Because of the way the connector works and its location, it can collect dirty very easily. I wouldn't be surprised if the connector on your car is a mess. You'll probably find it is covered in black grease and dirt, and will need cleaning. If this is the case, you'll get intermittent no-start symptoms, where it'll just be dead (ie. no turning over at all, no clicking, nothing.)

So I recommend you clean this connector off - you can use electrical contact cleaner spray and also wire brush the metal terminal on the starter.

It could very well be a problem with your ignition switch, wiring, etc, as well, but this is an easy thing to check and it's given me the exact same problem you describe.

Beyond that, make sure your battery is actually fully charged - the rotary wants a lot of power to turn over. Sometimes it can seem like the battery is charged up enough, but it actually isn't and can't even spin the motor at all. Just because the headlights and stereo work doesn't mean it's not the problem.

If it comes down to it, be sure to have the starter tested before replacing it. I've replaced the starter before when it didn't need to be. In my experience with my car, starting problems are usually the result of a defective/weak battery or dirty connections.

Good luck!

 

try a back yarder job.
grab a metal poll and give ur start motor a few light bangs.. it seems to actualy work when i was having truble a while back

 

does the 1980 have fuseble links?

 

Because of an oil leak at one of the oillines to the oilcooler, the bottom of my car got real dirty, and some of that oil collected on the terminals, just like SilverRocket discribed. The problem I got was just like the one you are talking about: no starting at all (no clicking sounds or anything) The oil simply had isolated the terminals. Sollution was rather easy, but of course, one must first find the problem... So check those first. If that doesn't help, try jump starting. If jump starting doesn't work, you can rule out battery problems. Try to get hold of a starter motor then. But first get under the car and clean...

 

Ya, that freaking terminal would "intermitently" fall off. I used a screwdriver to bend in the tabs on the terminal so it would stay on. And of course make sure you clean it real good.

 

Time to start parking on hills...

It is a manual, isn't it???

 

gonna check that out when i get home today, yes its a standard...heh thanks alot for the help folks

 

YEA !!!! it worked ! hahahaha, and also thanks to yuo guys for all the help, it was a damn little black clip hahahahah it was that damn solinoid, look out everyone else who has this prob,