93 Lumina 3.1 starting problems

[GSX4]

My 93 lumina won't start today. Took a long ride to Sioux Falls and back to MPLS yesterday with no problems. Today the car won't even turn over. Battery is good, you turn the key, and all the lights and sensor checks take place, but the starter solenoid does not even click. I thought it might be the tranny switch stuck in PARK, but tried moving that about. Battery seems really good.

Any idea on what might have taken a dump on me? Bad starter, bad solenoid? Flaky battery?

[jonsonton]

It could be the stater solenoid, or maybe from all that driving a ground wire somewhere vibrated loose, but that sounds unlikely.

[richtazz]

The ignition switch could be bad also. To test, put a 12v test light to the "S" terminal on the starter solenoid (it's the small terminal with a purple wire). Have someone turn the ignition to the start position. If the light lights, then the switch is ok and I'd suspect the starter or solenoid. If it doesn't light, either the ignition switch or neutral safety switch has failed and is not sending the signal to the starter to engage.

[robyrob]

have you tried to charge the battery or jumpstart it? the starter pulls a LOT more power than what is needed for your lights/dash etc. - it could just be a low battery (but you'd normally hear a click or get it to crank slowly if this were the case).

try tapping on the solenoid; when there is low voltage or high resistance the contacts can weld together preventing it from engaging (thus giving you no click) - if it suddenly starts working again, you should replace the solenoid.