My brother and I go out to his car (89 GXL) to go to school this morning and the car wouldn't start. He tried to crank it and it wouldn't crank. All of the gauges were working, and the battery is good. We tried push starting it twice and it didn't start. He said he heard the starter engage ( he bought it refurbished about 2 weeks ago) So is the problem that there is no 12v going to the ignition switch. I mean, the headlights go up and down, the stereo worked, should we just check his 80 amp fuse when we go back home?

Thanks for any help.
Craig

 

Check the alternator dude. Just like two days ago mine fudged up and everything still worked(sunroof, pop-ups, heater, etc.) but the alt was bad and the starter would just click or turn the engine once over and stop. Try charging the battery first and try it. Check all fuses and then have your alt checked at autozone. I doubt it would be the starter these mothas are pretty sturdy.

 

Check to make sure the little wire atteched to the starter hasn't fallen off. Not the main power wire but the little trigger wire. Happened to me a few times.

 

Ok, we'll check into that stuff. He just got a new alternator about 2 or 3 months ago. It's still worth a try though.

Thanks,
Craig

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I won't be able to check it out til tommorrow but hopefully it is something really simple.

 

If you have headlights and they are bright, but the car won't turn over, AND you do not hear any relays pulling in and clicking when going to START, then your missing the power from the main fuse 0R the wire that carrys the 12v from the main fuse to the ignition switch is pulled apart. That wire can be pulled apart at a single blade connector located approx four inches below the fuse box in the engine bay, or at a two prong plug about eight inces down the steering column from the ignition switch.

 

Battery is at 12 volts but when attempting to crank over it goes down to about 10. You can hear the starter and relays click in the engine bay when trying to start it. The engine isn't spinning. Starter is good. You can hear it when turning the ignition over.

The engine isn't spinning<-- this is the part that worries me it seems like it is stuck. It won't push start either.