I just got a 97 lumina. It has been running fine and when I went to start it the other morning all the lights came on, but when I turned the key everything went dead. Nothing worked after that. The next day the lights came on again, but turning the key yeilded the same results. Tried to jumpstart, no avail. Is they battery dead, or where should I start? Any help would be great!!

sounds like the starter is kaput. Take it off and take it to advanced auto or some place like that. They will test it for free. I cannot remember the bolt size for the bolts on the starter. Might be a 13mm I believe that's what it is. But anyways, before taking it off, make sure you remember what wires go to what. There are 3 terminals on the starter. A small one with a small wire. That is the ignition wire. So put that back on the small terminal. On the starter you will see a weaved wire connected to to the solenoid. Don't worry about that. Leave it alone. The other 2 wires red and black (alternator and battery cables) that are a thicker gauge, those go on the other large terminal. The nuts that hold the wires on are 10mm. You can get them from the top if you have small arms, but everything will need to be taken care of down low. So might as well put it on ramps or jack stands.

There is a plastic piece that covers part of the trans flywheel. That is not a necessary piece, it gets in the way of what you are doing. You would have to remove practically everything to get it off.Break it off and think nothing of it.... really it does nothing. I will argue that with anyone who thinks differently. Or you may be able to slide a regular wrench under there. You could try.

Make sure you disconnect the battery before taking the starter off. The last thing you want to do is ground out.

Anyways, let me know if you need help.

sounds like a poor connection either at the battery or at the starter. i would hook a test light to hot and ground AT BATTERY while trying to start. if light goes out clean terminals then try again. if it goes out again then i would suggest a battery. typically a faulty starter wont make EVERY light go completely out. if this happens to be a 3.4 DOHC engine, check the remote positive jump start terminal. unless a 3.1 also has one.

sounds like a poor connection either at the battery or at the starter. i would hook a test light to hot and ground AT BATTERY while trying to start. if light goes out clean terminals then try again. if it goes out again then i would suggest a battery. typically a faulty starter wont make EVERY light go completely out. if this happens to be a 3.4 DOHC engine, check the remote positive jump start terminal. unless a 3.1 also has one.

Oh damn, my bad. I did not see that everything came on, then went out. I only saw everything came on but no go. lol. I would look into the battery before testing the cables. That too can be taken out and brought to a auto parts store for free testing. You will need a 8mm to take the terminals off the battery.

I agree with Ohiomaster, you are losing all batery voltage from the battery, either because of a bad battery or a bad connection or ground for the bttery.

i had something similar...mine would be fine for a few days then..nothing just dash lights and such,but no crnking..i would bang on the starter and sometimes it would fire...this went on for months...people said starter...it started to do it more often...but it eventually started..so i looked real close at the key...it was worn real bad...they have a resistor key...so i sprayed the ignition..it worked for a while then it started acting up again...i went and bought a new key..and i haven't had a problem since...you can get them cheap on ebay..just give them your ,V.I.N, numbers and they send your proper resister key,then you go and get it cut somewhere..it's cheaper than the dealer.

i had something similar...mine would be fine for a few days then..nothing just dash lights and such,but no crnking..i would bang on the starter and sometimes it would fire...this went on for months...people said starter...it started to do it more often...but it eventually started..so i looked real close at the key...it was worn real bad...they have a resistor key...so i sprayed the ignition..it worked for a while then it started acting up again...i went and bought a new key..and i haven't had a problem since...you can get them cheap on ebay..just give them your ,V.I.N, numbers and they send your proper resister key,then you go and get it cut somewhere..it's cheaper than the dealer.

This is a good tip bigshotbill. Although I think this might be a different situation from the poster's. He said everything goes dead and even the instrument warning lights, or at least that's how I read everything going dead. If not and he has battery voltage to somethings, then it could be a problem with a worn key or ignition cylinder like you mentioned.

I always though the car would still crank without reading the proper resister it just wouldn't get fuel. Maybe different models years disabled the starter instead?