I had a bad key so I changed the lock and the ignition switch while I was at it. It started afterwords without issue so I know I did not break something when I installed this stuff.  In fact it started at least 20 time over the next couple of weeks.

Background before I changed the ignition switch and key the car would not start all of the time but if I moved the shifter a couple of times and set it in Park hard it would start.

Ok today I went to start it and nothing no click nothing reset the shifter and it started.  Note to self I did not fix that problem.  Now the car is at my church will not start no click nothing. I do have lots of battery power so dead battery is not the issue.  Also ignition key in start position foot no brake moving shifter from park to neutral not start.  It will not start in Neutral or in Park.  My old Chevy would did this also and it was the starters solenoid.  It was explained to me I believe that there was not enough current to engage the solenoid completely therefore there was no click and no start.

Because our cars are prone to have grounding issues could it be a ground issue and how is best to check this out.  Replace the solenoid ACDelco Starter Solenoid is not that much money if there is a good chance it could be that.  I can get a MasterPro (for $22) solenoid that would allow me to test the system while I waited for the AC Delco to arrive.  Suggestions Please.

|UPDATED|11/27/2014 11:54:54 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Safety neutral switch, dreaded purple wire would be my top two guesses. 

I replaced that switch not that long ago when I was doing the inside.  Is there an adjustment on the switch I cannot remember and a lot of the work myself as I have bad back bad knees.  Basically I'm just old. So I had it done I did not do it myself.

I have a guy that does my handyman work work on it under my supervision a lot of the time.

Gilbert, check to see if your back-up lights come on with the shifter in Reverse. If they do come on without you having to fiddle with the shifter to get them on, you certainly might be looking at a solenoid problem. Make sure the reverse lights only come on in REVERSE....not in any other gear. If they come on in any other position, you may need to adjust, or replace the NSS on the shifter. It's rare that the "Park" and "Neutral" portions of the NSS will go out at the same time.
Check the reverse lights, and let us know if they work or not.


btw...starter solenoids can take a doo-doo at just about any time, but it always seems they do it at the worst possible time. In most cases, it's just the main terminal has burned when it makes contact with the plunger. You can loosen the nut on that terminal(the large, center terminal that the battery cable goes to), push it into the solenoid body just a bit, and spin the terminal around 180 degrees, tighten the nut back up, and have a new surface for the plunger to make contact on. I've saved myself, and others the cost of the solenoid just by doing that many times. Just a thought.


|UPDATED|11/26/2014 11:10:31 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

All I can say is wow.  I will drive down to the church.  (which is where my car is at) and check on the back up lights.  That is a great tip I would never have looked to see that they were related circuits. 

Just got back from the Corvette.  The backup lights come on when the car is in reverse.  They are off in all other positions.  

From what you said I'm guessing that it is more than likely I have an ignition solenoid issue. 

So it would not be unreasonable to either do as you suggested with the bolt or replace the solenoid.  But I'm thinking the bolt is more of an emergency thing to do than a long term fix.  It could also be a troubleshooting tool.  If it worked then it is the solenoid if it did not work it could still be the solenoid.  

With that in mind I'm leaning towards purchasing the $22 solenoid (most likely made in china) then if that works ordering a AC-Delco solenoid and putting that in later.  

Does that all seem reasonable?

Checking the reverse lights will give you an idea of whether or not you have a NSS issue.

Turning the terminal on the solenoid is no more of a temporary fix than replacing the solenoid. When you turn the key to "Start", the purple wire powers up an electromagnet in the solenoid, which then pulls the starter drive gear(bendix) forward. When that happens, it also moves the terminal for the starter motor up against the battery terminal of the solenoid, making contact, which powers up the starter motor so it turns, and cranks the engine. These terminals only make contact on 1/2 of the surface of the solenoid terminal. As this happens many times over the years, the brass terminal(on the solenoid) tends to burn, eventually burning to a point where the drive terminal no longer makes contact. Loosening the terminal, and turning it 180 gives you 100% of the same contact area it had originally....just in a different location. Sometimes, if the terminal is burnt, it will still allow the starte drive to engage the flywheel(clunk), but not turn the starter motor. Just depends on the mode of failure. Whether you twist the terminal, or put a new solenoid in, the burning is still going to take place....no way around it. I need to dig one of my GM starters out and show how to do this, and to show how bad the terminals can get over time.
You could check for a full 12v on the purple wire at the solenoid(small purple wire on the solenoid terminal "S" closest to the engine block) to see if it is getting full power from the NSS/ignition switch. If it has a full 12v there in the "Start" position, with no click or crank, then the solenoid is toast. If you do NOT have 12v there in "Start", then you would need to check the NSS, and/or ignition switches further to find the problem. In your case, I bet replacing the solenoid will correct the problem.

btw...a ground problem would show as a loss of power to everything....lights, radio, etc., when trying to crank the engine.

Thanks so much Joel.

I took some tools to the car pulled the starter turn the post on the solenoid 180 reinstalled it and nothing. 

It was getting dark so I had AAA and got the car hauled home where I have all of the tools necessary to  do some troubleshooting. 

By the way the main terminal on the solenoid was not tight. So any type of damage could have been made to it.  I have no idea how long that has been as I have never had the starter off.   Anyway I want to thank you Joel it was good advice just did not work this time for me. 

 

The car is home I will start working on it on Friday.  Any further tips would be welcomed.

|UPDATED|11/27/2014 8:07:49 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

The Safety Nuetral switch is part of the problem.  I took it out and confirmed it was not acting as a switch.  May be something more but Monday I have a new Safety Neutral Switch coming and will continue.