Car wont start, not starter, or battery, any help?

Question

i have a 94 buick regal its fairly old but hey it works, well did just recently my car wouldnt start i got my starter tested and its in great condition, however when i turn the ignition i dont hear any noises at all, my radio and lights still come on so i assume my battery is fine. any help?

Answer 1

No noise at all when you turn the key means that the starter is not turning at all.  If it tested good (do you trust the shop that tested it?), then it is probably in the circuitry that powers the starter.

I would begin at the starter and work backwards.  Since you are confident the starter is good, check the solenoid next.  A solenoid is a device that takes the low current signal from your ignition switch and uses it to control the high current needed to turn the starter.  If it does not work right even a perfect starter will just sit there.  

If your solenoid is good, then you need to move back to the wiring.  Check the wires between the  starter and ground (the frame of the car usually), and the battery and the solenoid.  Check the wire from the solenoid to the starter.  If all these are good, then you need to check the wires from your ignition switch to the solenoid, and the switch itself.

Also, just because your accessories come on, that doesn't mean your battery is good.  It takes a lot more current to run the starter, so you may still have a bad battery.  I would suggest that you get that tested as well.

Good luck.

Answer 2

kace, it is fuel injected, carbs don't exist anymore.

Answer 3

Carburater

Answer 4

you have a defective ignition module

Answer 5

did you get the seleniod tested also? Wires to the starter might be loose or a bad ground

Answer 6

You need to check to make sure that you are getting power to your starter when you turn the key...if you aren't you need to look through that circuit and see if there are any bad connections or blown fusible links...if you have power to the switch and the switch doesn't send power to the starter you need a new ignition switch...that is a relatively common problem in the older gms

Answer 7

There is a fusible link that hook to the starter that engages the solenoid. You need to see if you have 12 volts all of the time on the big stud, and 12 volts on the small stud when the key is turned. If you have no power to the small wire, it could be the ignition switch or the fusible link. When the ling goes bad, the wire usually is spongy and stretchy.

Answer 8

Have the battery tested.It may be strong enough run your lights but not strong enough to turn the starter.Also check your wire connections on your starter.

Answer 9

Easy to diagnose. With a simple circuit test light attach the small alligator clip to a clean ground. Push the pointed end directly on the positive battery terminal wire where it's bolted to the starter solenoid. Have someone switch the key to the start position. If the small light in the circuit tester lights up you have a bad starter solenoid or the other two smaller wires bolted to the solenoid aren't making a good connection. Check clean and tighten both ends of the battery cables and make sure the small switching screws are tight on the end of the solenoid.

I'm almost betting you need a fresh new solenoid or the starter isn't as good as you think it is. It's not an ignition module as they have absolutely nothing to do with the operation of the starter.