Has power but won't start

Tiny
DARTMAN61
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 BUICK CENTURY
  • 3.1L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 108,000 MILES
Lights come on, do not dim, but car won't crank.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2015 AT 5:46 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,757 POSTS
From what I can see on the wiring diagram, there's no starter relay used on your car, and there's no troublesome anti-theft system either. Both of those surprised me. That leaves the neutral safety switch as the main suspect. Try shifting to neutral to see if it will crank. If it does, that switch is either defective or out of adjustment.

If you can get to the neutral safety switch, (top left side of transaxle), you should have 12 volts on the yellow wire when the ignition switch is in the "crank" position. If you have that, you should also have 12 volts coming out on the purple wire. If the 12 volts is missing on the purple wire only, jump the yellow wire to the purple wire with a small clip lead. Be careful because if the starter cranks now, it will crank in gear too. I don't want to hear about you having to run after your car chasing it down the road!
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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:41 AM
Tiny
DARTMAN61
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Tried starting in neutral, same thing. What's next?
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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:41 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check the fusiblelinks that run off the battery one may be bad causing a no start.
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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:41 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,757 POSTS
Did you read my second paragraph?
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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:41 AM

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