'98 GT 3.8 won't crank

[Avant Sport]

Hi, my daughters 1998 GP GT won't turn over, this was after it started 5 minutes earlier before she stopped for gas. I don't believe it's the battery or connections as lights and horn work well. It doesn't even make a click at the starter. I tried in park and nuetral with no luck, we also tried jumper cables, no luck. Any ideas? Her car is at a convenient store and I don't think they want it there, lol. Thanks, Tom

[Hippo Machine]

Check the fuses under the hood, one might have blown.

[GTPSHAWTY]

crank fuse in the under hood fuse bank.. good start in my opinion

[dpzelenak]

does the motor turn over and try to start or does it just do nothing when you turn the key

[jwjones]

short in your starter wires? Possibly a ground too, my buddy had a ground come loose from his car and his did the same thing

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

There's nothing at all? Do the lights come on, dim then no starter noise?

[GTPSHAWTY]

lol dam you hippo

[Avant Sport]

wont crank or turn over at all, starter does nothing. Headlights are strong as is the horn. I am not with the car so I can't easily check if headlights dim with turning the key. I will go check fuses, thanks!!

[dpzelenak]

starters dead or loose connection

[dsmuts]

I'd say starter try banging on it with a hammer while turning the key

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

It didn't run rough prior doing this did it? Ever have any major work done to the car?

[Avant Sport]

Nope, ran perfect until she stopped for gas, then no crank. weird

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

Start checking fuses then

[Hippo Machine]

Maybe teh Hippo is right!









Teh Hippo strikes again~

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

Maybe teh hippo needs to wait and see

[Hippo Machine]

It sounds exactly like a fuse issue. It couldn't really be anything else. I'm guessing the when she turned the car off to get gas, a fuse popped.

[w98seeng]

If it's not a fuse...

If the bearing in the starter is gone, the rotor rubs against the stator and shorts out the starter. As dsmuts said, try to give it a shot while turning the key. If this is the case though, most of the time, with the lights on, they will dim as there is now a short in the system. As there is nothing when you turn the key, it sounds like a neutral safety switch or the ignition cylinder, most likely the neutral safety switch

If the starter was bad, the starter selenoid would still click, so I doube there is any power getting to the starter selenoid. Double check and see if you are getting voltage on the purple wire of the starter when someone turns ignition to start. If you get voltage, your problem is the starter.

Try this (found this on another site)...

Here's basic step-by step instructions on how to adjust the neutrsl safety switch.

The neutral safety switch is located On the transmission right near where it meets the engine. You will see the arm and shift cable right on top of it when you look below the master cylinder.

-Start with the car off and set the parking brake
-Place the car in Neutral
-Find the PRNDL switch and loosen (dont remove) the two bolts holding it to the trans
-Have an assistant jump in the car and attempt to start it
-if no start have the assistant hold the key in the start position
-you go grasp the PRNDL switch and adjust it one way or another untill the car starts
-Tighten the bolts down
-Attempt to start the car in both Park and Neutral, and verify your backup lights function
-repeat process untill everything works, test drive.

Ian

[dsmuts]

On my mom and dads mountaineer the ground wire from the starter to the block broke in half and the lights wouldn't dim or anything just wouldn't start.

[midrange]

I had simular issue with another car.. it was wires going to starter..

[Avant Sport]

The verdict is in, bad starter.