Wife called from mall parking lot- 93 won't start. Tried to jump battery - nothing. Tried starting with shift lever in neutral - nothing, tied wiggling shift lever and starting - nothing.

Starter makes absolutely no attempt to crank engine. Don't hear anything, not even a click.

Battery cables tight. All accessories work, windows work.

What could it be?

 

It still may be the starter: give it a good whack, using a long rod to see if it wakes up. Or apply direct power to the + on the starter to see if it responds thus eliminating other possibilities like the ignition switch.

Do the headlights dim as you turn the to start the car? If, so the starter is bad, if not, the current is not getting to the starter.

 

Starter is good, because if I apply 12V directly to the start where the wire from the ignition switch goes, then ot turns over and starts.

Is there anything(relay,etc) between the ignition switch and the point where this wire connects to the starter?

 

Consider the electrical part of the ignition switch.

 

Further info - think I just put 2 and 2 together. Can someone tell me if my shifter(auto trans) is very loose and difficult to get in and out of park be the cause of my starter not turning? Wondering if the neutral safety switch is not making contact, therefore not allowing the starter to turn the engine over?

 

how can anyone on a forum tell you if YOUR transmission shift linkage is loose? are you going to fly us out to you to inspect it for you?

 

There is a mis-understanding here. I was making a statement of fact regarding my shifter assembly actually being loose and therefore the possible cause of the problem and not asking a question.

"Can someone tell me if my shifter(auto trans) is very loose and difficult to get in and out of park be the cause of my starter not turning? Wondering if the neutral safety switch is not making contact, therefore not allowing the starter to turn the engine over? "

 

Yes. There is a switch down there, and if your lever doesn't register as in P or N, the engine will not start. If jiggling around your shift lever fixes your problems, then it's probably in the switch.

I've also heard of people haveing problems with the car so it will only start in N, but not P, or P but not N.

I don't have the diagrams on me, but I think your wiring path goes like this: Battery--> Key --> P/N switch --> Starter Solenoid.

 

note the park/neutral switch is in the transmission, and not on the shifter or external linkage. <= WRONG!!!!!!!

 

The Neutral Safety Switch is in the shifter, not in the transmission. Very possible reason for not starting. PIA to get to actually...

 

arrgh, confused my mercedes for my volvo again, hah!

 

Agreed on the NSS location. Think this is my issue