Won't start

S

sevend

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Started car had no lights blinkers or anything else after changing thermostat. Next time I tried to start the other accessories worked but wound not start. No sound coming from starter area tooked battery and had it charged and it tested find and it was charged. Put battery back in still would not start checked the starter fuses and they were good. Also tried another good battery's still does not start. And the engine still doesn't crank yes it has gas in it. What else could cause this and locatation?
 
Does the starter turn over at all? What's the PATS light doing? Did you have the battery load tested? (If not, you still know nothing about it.)
 
Load test is the test I had done to the battery, I also tried a new battery with the same part number and amps that I bought for my van last week.

The PATS light, is that the alarm light? If so it is working properly flashing when the alarm is active, not flashing when it is disarmed. It also does the a few flashes when you turn the key.

The starter seems like it is getting no juice at all. Could of something shorted when the coolant spilled from the thermostat when I was changing it?
 
sevend said:
It also does the a few flashes when you turn the key.
Click to expand...

ok you really need to be very specific with your answers, is it flashing WHILE turning the key? or if is it only flashing after you turn the key to the RUN/IGNITION posistion?

I'm sorry but even after reading that I'm still unsure of what exactly is going on...


battery tested ok (not sure if it was properly tested), all electronics work exactly as they should just like if the car was normally working.

but when you try to start the car you get absolutely nothing, dead silence, its not trying to crank but the motor seems froze, its not trying to crank but doesnt have enough power to turn it over (usually accompanied with a loud fast clicking) and its not cranking but not firing (motor just spinning). is all that correct?




next, exactly what is the PATS light doing while the key is being held in the START position, when the car should be starting?




if the PATS light (the "alarm light") is flashing while turning the key, there is your problem.

if it is, then the Passive Anti Theft System is keeping the starter from cranking.
the car is not recognizing a key that has been programmed to allow the car to start

I would try a different key first.
second i would see what 2 digit code the light is flashing out and post it here
 
I'm sorry, but your video is not perfectly clear to me. When you turn the key to the start position and hold it there, does the PATS light stay on or go off? Could you repeat the start attempt with the headlights turned on? When you do, do they stay on at full brightness, go dim, or go off when you turn the key to start and hold it?
 
whats your oil look like?...just to be on the safe side...are you sure its all the way in park?
 
Oil is clean and looked clean 2 weeks ago when changed and yes I made sure I was in park multiple time lol by shifting out and back in
 
Year of your LS? V8 or V6?
Looks like it's time to check the starter relay and do some testing...
 
I tried starting in neutral

I have the 3.9 V8 I swapped the relay for the starter with the ones next to it. I am told the starter is in the passenger side near the wheel well, will pull it and have it tested when the rain stops

it is a 2000
 
Before you pull the starter out, why not do a little testing?
There are two terminals on the solenoid on the starter with external connections.
The "B" terminal (large wire connected) should have battery voltage all the time.
The "S" terminal (small wire connected) should have battery voltage when someone turns the key to the start position. If not, then it's not the starter.

Before this, I would do some testing at the starter relay. Remove the relay and check for voltage on the relay coil terminals of the relay socket. When the key is in the start position, you should get twelve volts or so. If not, then the problem is somewhere before the relay. Suspects would be the PCM, the key switch, and the transmission safety switch.
 
Tested starter relay and I get 11.46 to 11.5 volts in the socket
Looking for a buddy to do the starter tests you suggested as I don't have alligators for my meter

Found a helper and checked voltage at the starter got .07 volts from the big cable and the same from the small when key was turned. I tested by using the frame as a ground for the starter let me know if that was the wrong way
 
Last edited:
Your starter's not getting power. (It could be the ground to the engine instead, but it probably isn't.)
Okay, now trace the big wire back to the junction terminal in the front passenger wheel well. Check the condition of the terminal and the voltage there. If the condition is good and the voltage is still low, then look at the junctions in the trunk. Between the trunk and the front junction, there's just the continuous wire. It's not impossible for there to be a problem with the wire, but it's more likely to be at one of the ends of the wire than in the middle.
 
I may have responded too soon. Please check the voltage between the metal engine block and some bare metal part of the car while someone turns the key to start. If you get a few volts or more, then your ground to the engine is bad. If not, repeat your starter tests making sure that your negative probe is really making good contact to ground. I think that it may not have been making good contact with the bare frame.
 
After retesting with a different grounding location I am getting 11.5 at the starter waiting for my helper to get back so I can test the other starter connection again with the key to start
ground to ground test produced nothing

Thanks for all the help so far I greatly appreciate it
 
Helper came other starter terminal is 11.5 when key is turned, and now it is raining again so waiting for it to stop so I can pull the starter and take it to Oriellys or somewhere else to be tested, also going to take battery with to have it retested as I want to be sure as possible
 
sevend said:
Helper came other starter terminal is 11.5 when key is turned, and now it is raining again so waiting for it to stop so I can pull the starter and take it to Oriellys or somewhere else to be tested, also going to take battery with to have it retested as I want to be sure as possible
Click to expand...

Sounds like it's the starter then.
 
Wow this starter is being a PITA. I cannot get anything to remove the top bolt, all my extensions and sockets combined in every way I can think of are either too short by a 1/4 inch or barely too long. Any hints??
 
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