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Starter not working?

Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 BUICK LESABRE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,700 MILES
Recently my car would not start when I turned the key. After turning the key like ten times or so it finally started. Then it really did not turn on anymore. It would not even crank. I checked for codes and I got code 58, which is security shut off. They told me the main suspect was a broken wire that runs from the ignition lock cylinder to down below the dash. Sure enough one of the two little wires was broken. And while I was at it, I also replaced the turn signal switch that sits in front of the lock cylinder. I put it all back together, plugged all the wires in the right place. But again, got a new key made, I checked the resistance on the new key versus the old key and it was off by less than 5 ohm's, but the car still wont start, in fact in wont even crank. Its acting the same way as before. The only difference is that now when I check for codes it does not give me anything at all, just code 12 over and over. So I know there is no security shut off going on, so what is the problem? Is there a step that I missed along the way? Any help is appreciated thanks.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2016 AT 8:38 PM

48 Replies

Tiny
CAR-MAN145
  • MECHANIC
  • 321 POSTS
Check power to the starter while trying to start it it should have power on the small wire if it has power there while trying to crank it bad starter

This guide will tell us for sure

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Sunday, May 15th, 2016 AT 1:30 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Well I don't have a test light. Instead I took the starter off and went to 4 different parts stores: Autozone said it was good, O'Reilly #1 said it was bad, O'Reilly #2 said it was good, and Pep Boys said it was bad. I decided to send it back since it has warranty. I just don't know why the results varied so much. I'll post what happened when I get the new part in a few days and install it. Thanks.
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Monday, May 16th, 2016 AT 10:57 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,878 POSTS
When you had the new key made does it have the chip in it. Also I would replace the starter with an AC delco unit,

http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-336-1899A-Professional-Starter-Remanufactured/dp/B002VUH41U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1463504651&sr=8-2&keywords=1993+BUICK+LESABRE+starter

only ones worth installing

Let us know what you find,

Best, Ken
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 10:05 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Exactly AC Delco is the only way to go. And that's why Im so shocked. This IS an AC Delco Remanufactured Starter. I bought it online from Rockauto. Com this past February. This is not what I expected from them, but then again it is remanufactured so you never know.
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 10:30 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
And yes my key does have a chip but the locksmith I took it with measured the resistance on the chip and made a new key according to that. His little machine said it was a #6. Then I measured the resistance of the new key and the old key with a multimeter and they were just off by 5 ohmns, which is nothing. I rechecked that the new lock cylinder wires were not broken or pinched and they're not, I even wrapped with electrical tape the small part where they're separated before joining into a single orange wire. As far as all the electrical connections under the dash, everything is plugged where it should. Autozone they told me that it might be the ignition switch that sits behind the lock cylinder. But a mechanic I know told me that can't be it, because if it was, I wouldn't be able to hear the fuel pump priming when I turn the key forward, which it does.
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 10:45 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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  • 42,878 POSTS
Lets try looking at the neutral safety switch, have you thought about getting a test light to help with the testing? On a problem like this it is a must.

http://www.amazon.com/ATD-5513-Heavy-Duty-Circuit-Tester/dp/B000M5ZWBA/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463507356&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=test+liht

See if the starter is getting a signal, I have seen where AC Delco stuff has problems too its not a 100% world :)

Is the security light flashing now?

Let me know

Best, Ken
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
No it never did flash any lights. But when I checked for codes, it gave me 58, which is a security shut off. Which was caused by the little wires on the old lock cylinder being broken. But now with new lock cylinder installed, I check for codes again and it doesn't give anything just code 12. One thing I did find very interesting is that, as an experiment, I disconnected one of the wires of the new lock cylinder that goes plugged into a little plastic box filled with wires above the brake pedal, I check for codes again, and only got code 12. Then I disconnected both lock cylinder wires, and again it just gave me code 12, which is weird because I should have gotten 58 again, like before. Does that mean anything?
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,878 POSTS
I would shut all the car doors, lock and then unlock the drivers door. Next disconnect the battery for two minutes and reconnect. See what happens get back to me.
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 12:14 PM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Well I can't because it has not starter I just sent it back today. But trust me I tried connecting and disconnecting the battery in many different patterns and for different amounts of time and nothing worked. I didn't try the lock and unlock driver's door and disconnect for 2 minutes. But when I get the new starter i'll definitely try it.
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 12:24 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Let me know :)
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 AT 12:37 PM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Well im really stuck here friend. I installed a new remanufactured AC Delco Starter and it still doesnt start or crank. I tried locking all the doors then unlocking the driver's door then disconnected battery for two minutes. And the only change I noticed is that when I turn the key from OFF to ON it beeps for 6 times straight, something it hadn't done in a long time. But that's it. This other mechanic told me to get a screwdriver and make the big and small terminals on the starter contact each other while having the key forward, and that should have turned it on. But all it does is make a loud click and a spark every time I touch them at the same time, the engine doesnt turn over at all.
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Friday, May 20th, 2016 AT 4:43 PM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
As some additional notes: I am able to hear the fuel pump priming every time I turn the key forward. Lights turn on on the dash, and there's 6 consecutive beeps. Just as a reminder I replaced the ignition lock cylinder, the turn signal swith, and I got a new key to go with the new cylinder with the electrical resistance on the chip matching the chip on the old key. And now a new remanufactured starter. And nothing no crank.
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Friday, May 20th, 2016 AT 5:47 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Hey JUANEMMANUEL,

I would put a wrench on the front of the engine to see if you can turn it over by hand, the engine might be locked up.

Let me know what you find
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Friday, May 20th, 2016 AT 7:30 PM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
I put the wrench on the crankshaft and was able to turn it over easily without much effort. This other guy at Autoze told me that the Neutral Safety Switch might be bad so he told me to unplugg both connections it has and if it was bad, the would turn on. I tried it and it still doesn't turn on at all. No crank.
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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 AT 8:51 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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I think its time for a test light to check where the trigger signal is getting lost.
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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 AT 9:13 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Ok I will buy one as soon as I can. Do you think you could tell me eaxctly where to start and what route to follow when checking with the test light?
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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 AT 9:20 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Ok one other thing I might add is that my car has a little square slot that was installed before I bought the car, which contains a little metal looking memory card which when you take it out, the car doesn't start or crank, the same thing its doing right now. And I did notice that even though its inserted, its kind of loose. Before it would go in kind of tight, but now it kinda goes in without any effort. Could this have something to do with it?
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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 AT 10:10 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,878 POSTS
Can you post a picture of what you are talking about?
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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Its not letting me upload it. Can I send to you to an email address?
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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 AT 10:39 AM
Tiny
JUANEMMANUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 35 POSTS
Here it is.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 AT 10:44 AM

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