94 olds cutlass supreme Power but no start

[EricS20]

Im getting power to my car but the engine wont turn over. I thought it was my starter, so i replaced it, had a buddy forget to ground it and it sparked a bit, then realized it and fixed it. I tested it before i put it in and it worked, the one i took out didnt. But after i replaced it the car still wont start. any suggestions? The car is a 94 olds cutless supreme 3.1L.

Im gonna take the new one out and test it again to make sure i didnt screw anything up, but im pretty sure it still works.

[Tony Silva]

Have a friend turn and hold the ignition key in the 'start' position while you use a test light on the small wire attatched to the starter solenoid...if the test light doesnt light up then the prob is not with the starter. Maybe with the ignition switch it's self is NOT sending power to the solenoid.

Much easier to check the wire than pull the starter again.

[Tony Silva]

Maybe the sparking messed up the (electrical) ignition switch.

[EricS20]

sorry, whats a test light and how do i do it? and thank you for your help by the way.

[Tony Silva]

A test light is an electrical tool used for seeing if a wire has electricity passing thru it. kinda looks like a screwdriver with a light bulb and a wire coming out of it. one end of the wire touches the negative post of the car battery and the 'screw driver' tip touches the wire that you are wanting to know if it is electrified...then the light bulb in the 'screw driver' will light up if it is good.

[EricS20]

thank you so much! that was a great explenation haha ill let you know how it goes. thanks again man!

[Tech II]

I thought it was my starter, so i replaced it, had a buddy forget to ground it and it sparked a bit, then realized it and fixed it.

Ha, ha, the only way you can forget to ground it, is to not attach it....

Are we talking the same language here? Does the engine crank over, but not start, OR, does the engine not crank at all?

If it doesn't crank at all, is the battery ok(need to test it)? Need to check the condition of the battery cables at the battery(check for corrosion).....if the battery and cables are ok, do as Tony suggested.....first take a test light, and attach it to the battery pos and neg terminals and look at the brightness of the light.....now leaving one end on the neg terminal of the battery, use the probe end and touch the connection of the purple wire to the "S" terminal of the starter solenoid.....have someone turn the key to the crank position....the light should be as bright as when connected across the battery....if it is, bad starter/solenoid...

If it doesn't light, does your ignition key have a black resistor pellet on it?

Also, check for power to all your fuses in the fuse panel, using a test light, with the key in the on position....

[EricS20]

ya, he forgot to attatch it. Engine dosnt crank at all. battery is good, so are the fuses and cables. I checked them all.

Ya, ive got a vats key. I was thinking it could be a reader problem.

[Tech II]

Did you do the test at the "S" terminal with the key in the crank position?

When you turn key to "on", not crank, does the SECURITY light go out after 3 seconds?