About Van Expertise I have been maintaining a fleet of approximately 55 light, medium and heavy vehicles for over 20 years. Most are 4X4 pickups and off road fire fighting trucks. Some medium duty trucks. Some military light trucks.
I can answer most questions concerning 4X4 engine, drive line, suspension, electrical, and fuel, both diesel and gasoline. Ford, GM, and Dodge, old and new, but prefferably not newer than 99.
Expert: Van Date: 7/20/2007 Subject: Enginge won't crank
Question I recently bought a 93 buick lesabre that a kid had wrecked to fix up. (just body damage.) It has the 3800 engine in it with 102,000 miles. I have replaced the battery, and alternator. Some days it starts fine and then some days when you turn the key the lights come on but nothing else. No cranking noise or anything. My neighbor (is a mechanic but not very good) told me that it was the ignition module and had a broken wire and had to be replaced. (This has the key with the chip in it.) I was told it would be around 250 to 300 to replace. I was wondering if you could tell me if you thought this was the problem, and if it is something I can do myself. (maybe get the module from a junk yard or etc.) Thanks.
Answer Hi Mike,
It is Not the ignition module. And, it is Not the chip key.
Neither of those would keep it from cranking the engine over.
Even if Both of those items were bad, the engine would crank over...it just wouldn't start or run.
Your problem is probably either the starter solenoid, or the neutral safety switch, or the ignition switch, or just a loose wire connection.
I believe your starter is right there on the front of the engine, right behind the radiator...correct?
Make sure the transmission is in neutral, and then check for power at the large battery cable connection on the starter. Test light works great for that.
Then, as someone turns the key to start, check for power being applied to the smaller terminal on the solenoid.
You could actually jump across from the battery cable terminal, to the small terminal.
If the starter engages, the problem is back toward the ignition switch...wires, neutral switch, ign switch, etc.
If the starter does not crank when that power is jumped, then the solenoid may be bad.
If the solenoid clicks, but the starter doesn't turn the engine over, then the problem is probably the starter, or a loose battery cable.
Check all that before investing any money, much less hundreds.
