saint44

Here's the sit rep. The lumina started having problems turning on. I would turn the ignition and it would turn on, but it was struggling to. Later on, it just wouldn't start unless I got the car jumped. So I didn't think the two problems were related, and I got a new battery at Walmart, had them put it in, change the oil and fill up the fluids. The walmart guy checked my battery and said it was fine so he put the old one back in. I got in the car to leave walmart and as soon as I hit a stop sign or stop light, it would turn off. I had to give it gas just to keep it running and stop signs. This kept up for a couple of days, but the problem got progressively better. I thought maybe, removing the battery might have messed with the ecm and it was reconfiguring itself or something. Finally the stalling stopped entirely. A day or two later, the car stopped turning on entirely. Battery is still fine, radio and all electrical will turn on fine, but the car won't even attempt to crank. This is my wife's car and she drives it on pretty close to empty on fuel most of the time, so after reading a few threads on the forum, thought it might need a new fuel pump. However, the walmart guys said they thought it was the starter, so did the guy who towed it there so they could look at it. Any ideas?

maxwedge

Welcome to AF, Walmart for general repairs?? If it won't crank, bad battery connections, bad wiring from ign sw to starter, bad ign switch, problem with the trans neurtal switch., basic diagnostics are in order here.

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Mediaman67

I would check the voltage at KO start posistion - at the Pos lead for the starter - if good, then it's a bad starter - if it turns over, but doesn't start, that is a different issue...

Walmart for repairs? wow! You'd be better of having a 12 year old girl work on it :-)

jdl

If it happens again, you could try the headlite test, I guess the dome lite would work as well. Turn the key to start and watch the lite, if it goes out or nearly out, it is usually the battery or cables. If the lite stays bright while attempting to crank, you've got an open circuit. Like the other person said, ignition switch--neutral safety, something like that. You don't have anti-theft system?

You could try jumping the starter solenoid, but if you do that, make sure the tranny is in park or neutral and the e-brake is set. It wouldn't hurt to have a helper sitting there with their foot on the brake and the clutch depressed, where applicable.

saint44

How would I go about jumping the starter solenoid? I'm not too car savy so I appreciate the help. Oh, and for the record, I didn't take it to walmart for repairs, I took it so they could fix what it looked like they messed up. Really I was trying to get them to pay for fixing it since nothing was wrong with the starter before. Also, how would i get to the ignition switch? I took off the panel underneath the steering wheel but didn't see anything out of order. and no I don't have an anti theft system.

maxwedge

When the key is in the crank position you should have 12v to purple wire at the starter solenoid, if so the solenoid or starter is bad if not, post back. This is basically the same advice already provided, if you are unfamiliar with electrical testing procedures you may need professional help.

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