1998 Saturn SL2 no crank

[sixwongs]

1998 Saturn SL2 no crank,

i just turned the ignition key it cranked for 3 seconds, then stopped.

then no more cranking.

open the hood saw a little smoke at the center back of the engine.

did not determine where it was coming from. Smoke always worries me,

hope the engine isn't seized up.

I also had a trouble moving the transmission selector handle back & forth between park & Neutral

trying to crank the engine

any suggestions for figuring out problem ?

my guess is starter, but would like to check easy solutions first.

thanks

[yost.josh]

i would guess it is indeed the starter

[myname1563]

Same thing happened to me before, no warning before it went like everyone said. It's the starter.