1995 850 won't start, doesn't crank, no click

jinglevo · Post by **jinglevo** » 04 Nov 2014, 16:31

Subject says it all, almost.

All the dash lights light up when I turn the key, but when I turn it to the start position there is nothing else: no click, no crank, no sound from the fuel pump.

The car has been sitting a while. I started it a week or so ago and let it run. Decided to do so again yesterday. At first it cranked but would not start. Thought I would try jumping it. Again it cranked but would not start. Then nothing.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
jinglevo

tzanis · Post by **tzanis** » 04 Nov 2014, 16:57

Even though because of my age i dont have enough experience, I will say the following.

1) Check your battery voltage again, even if the lights come up

2) if the voltage is normal, about 12.5 volts, and you still cant hear the fuel pump is a bad thing.

I am pretty sure it's the battery though

if eventually it's the battery, and the car has been sitting like you are saying, use the gas u have and put in some fresh, and do an oil change, clean the spark plugs etc

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 04 Nov 2014, 20:16

Have you had any trouble with the flashing up arrow or the reverse lights? A bad PNP switch will cause a no crank condition. Try running the shifter back and forth from park to low gear a dozen or so times and then try again.

...Lee

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 05 Nov 2014, 11:16

You may have an ignition switch problem. To check this please do following.
Locate the starter under manifold.
Stick your hand and remove the plastic cover on the starter, it will come off if you pull it, nothing bolted or clipped.
Get a long screw driver.
Bring the key to the second position, your dash lights will be on.
Get a flash light if needed but you should see a red thick cable connection and a tiny yellow cable on the starter, make contact between with the screw driver, you may see some sparks but car should start. If starts, change the ignition switch. If not could be pnp switch.

Post by **rmmagow** » 05 Nov 2014, 12:15

Try rowing your gear shift back and forth about 20 times to help clean the PNP switch (assumng Automatic trans). Remove your battery cables from the battery and super clean the connections. Check your fuses, I'm pretty sure there is a big master fuse for the starter system but this sounds electrical and like a bad battery.

mika · Post by **mika** » 05 Nov 2014, 14:23

I have had this happen before. Ended up being battery. As soon as new one dropped in, all the weird electrical issues went away.

Another thing that is worth (easily) checking, is look at the battery cable clamps/crimps, are the wires tearing off the clamp that bolts onto the battery terminals? My negative wire is cracking off the battery clamp slowly, and beginning to give me intermittent starting problems once in a while.

jinglevo · Post by **jinglevo** » 05 Nov 2014, 15:15

Standard shift, so no PNP switch, I guess.

Battery voltage is 12.1. But would that really cause it not to turn at all, not even to groan a bit, even when jumping it? Anyway, I will pull the battery as soon as I can & try another one. And I will test the starter switch.

BTW I did check the diagnostic codes, both fuel and ignition. As always when I'm having trouble, they said everything was normal.

Is the starter motor not fused?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 05 Nov 2014, 19:11

With a manual there is no PNP so that obviously isn't the problem. On the left hand side of the car, right next to the strut tower, there should be a red/green wire sticking out of the wiring harness with a connector on it. use a wire to apply + battery voltage to that wire (with the car in neutral so that it doesn't run over you) and see if it cranks. That wire runs directly to the starter solenoid and bypasses the immobilizer and the ignition switch.

If you still get no action my guess is the starter solenoid is bad. If it cranks then you need to look back from that point through the immobilizer and the then to the ignition switch.

...Lee

Post by **abscate** » 06 Nov 2014, 17:58

jinglevo wrote:Standard shift, so no PNP switch, I guess.

Battery voltage is 12.1. But would that really cause it not to turn at all, not even to groan a bit, even when jumping it? Anyway, I will pull the battery as soon as I can & try another one. And I will test the starter switch.

BTW I did check the diagnostic codes, both fuel and ignition. As always when I'm having trouble, they said everything was normal.

Is the starter motor not fused?

Nope. If the voltage drops low enough the solenoid won't pull in and it will just be silent. It won't always chatter. A combination of weak battery and bad grounds will do this

tzanis · Post by **tzanis** » 06 Nov 2014, 23:05

just one crazy thought. One day, I was doing something on the car, and I disconnected the battery. after that I havent realized that the alarm/immobilizer had went on, so the car would not start do anything. It took me a few minutes to understand what happened, and of course cold sweat, but what you simply have to do, is lock and unlock the car with the key, and not manually. Just a random thought, which I am pretty sure doesnt connect with your case