[NeonKnight]

Originally Posted by robrieke

I've got a 2001 Lumina, 3.1, around 80k miles. There were no problems starting my car prior to what happened last week. My wife went to the store and it wouldn't start when she tried to come back home. The solenoid would click, but the starter wouldn't work. We had it towed home, I looked at the starter and the battery. The starter gear was pretty worn, so I figured I'd replace it. The positive battery cable was corroded to packed dust, and the positive battery terminal was the same, so I figured I'd replace them.

***I kept track of every wire I took off the starter.*** There were 2 on one big terminal (including the positive cable), and 1 on a small side terminal, a purple one. The other big terminal had a big wire going to the starter itself.

Anyway, I replaced the starter/solenoid, battery, and cable. Went to start up the car and when I turned the key to Start, nothing happened. Made sure I was in park (and e-brake AND chocked the tires). Pressed down the brake pedal and didn't hear the click I usually hear (which I assume is a relay allowing me to start the car). Tried a couple more times, checked my connections and tested the battery, cable and starter. All 3 were good.

More troubleshooting has led me to discover that the windows won't work even though when I plug a multimeter into the fuse for them, there is a voltage flow when I push the buttons down.

No voltage flow through the starter relay fuse connection in the car when I tried to start it with the multimeter plugged in there.

I'm going to check the ignition switch next, but at this point I'm ready to ask for help. Does anybody know what the problem could be if it's not the ignition switch?

Thanks!
Robert A. Rieke

Check your ground. it is possible to have electricy going through but without the ground there to finalize the circuit you wont be able to take a load off the battery for anything. i would trace back your ground wire, make sure you dont have an exposed wires. Make sure nothing was crimped accidently etc etc.. check for short to ground mainly. also check the fuse panel in the engine compartment pull out each fuse and see if they are good.