Engine won't turn over
 

This problem has just started several days ago. Turn the key and everything comes on but the starter doesn't turn. Then after a while of trying, it works. Here's what I've done:
Took out the OVR and cleaned the fuse and pin connectors.
Jacked it up and tapped the starter while the wife turns the key.
Charged the battery up, my battery is fine, 13+ volts.
Checked all the fuses...3-4 times.
Checked the wires going to the starter..OK.
Wiggled the shift level and climbed under and checked the neutral switch, will not start in neutral or park.
Sprayed the ignition switch with CRC.

If I push it out of the way so that the wife can get her Cadillac out, it may or may not start right up. It's doing it more often now.
I'm thinking it's probably the ignition switch, but usually when that's the problem, you can giggle the switch and get it to go...but not in this case.
Fuel pump is running.
This sounds like the problem triggerman had recently, but I wonder if he moved the shift lever while trying to crank it? I move mine but it doesn't crank. I may by-pass the neutral safety switch if I get no other suggestions.
Shadowgriffen, OVR? Probably not this time, but what?
Thanks everyone, Perri

Sounds like the starter to me.

I did the same thing, tried hitting it with a screwdriver and all! It started here and there, luckily it left me stranded at home, not on the road!

I suspect the ignition switch, however you can usually giggle and/or play around with a bad switch and get contact....not my case.
If it is the starter, I would tend to believe it is the starter solenoid. I tapped the starter with a hammer while the wife turned the key with no luck.
**One has to be careful not to hit the starter too hard or damage to the magnets will occur**
Wait a few minutes, get in and it starts right up.
I'm stumped!:confused:

does it crank at all, or just nothing?
i'm asking, because my 95 is doing this, used to happen once every few months, now at least once a week. i'm scurred to drive it.

happened to me one day, i was at the beach 30 miles away and when i came back to my car it wouldnt start. ended up getting my entire ignition system replaced.

Starting circuit is very basic.
Components include ignition switch, reversing/neutral switch and starter motor.

First make sure that the ground lead to the starter motor is intact and the connection is clean.
Also clean up the ground connections in the area of the battery
Poor grounds tend to give erratic operation and the W124 is known for ground problems on higher mileage vehicles.

Should be a small wire going to the starter from the reversing/neutral switch (violet color?) along with a heavier black wire direct from the battery.
Jumper these two wires together and the starter should spin providing you have a good ground connection.
This will prove out the starter.

When the ignition is turned to start you should have at least 12+ volts to ground on this wire.
If you don't have voltage then work your way back to see if you have voltage at the reversing/neutral switch, then back to the ignition switch( violet/white wire?).

If you have power and ground to the starter, then it could be that you need to replace the starter.:y

Zedstyle, the problem is intermittent. It does seem to start better once the car has been started for the first time of the day. I leave it running if I'm running errands.
Rbycc, I'll double check all the grounds around the battery, jump the neutral switch, and check voltage at the starter.
Thanks, Perri

Problem Solved!!!
 

Turned out to be quite simple. Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Saved me over $300.00 :).

So was it the starter or not?

Yea, I guess I'd better share my findings. I didn't post it immediately to demonstrate the importance of coming back and letting others know the fix.

The problem is the NEAUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. Weird thing though, I could move the shift lever while trying to start it, without success. I suppose if the NSS is out of adjustment, neutral isn't really neutral...park isn't park. Sometimes it would start in park, sometimes not. The lever can't go far enough forward in "park" to activate the switch. In neutral, the lever can be moved slightly toward reverse.....and there it will start. I'll adjust it this weekend. What's involved with that?

Anyways, thanks to everyone for all the suggestions, and let's keep sharing what we find.
Perri

Couldn't agree more....I'm on the Corvette Forum and post a lot of DIY's for the C6.
Talk about active, you get a response before you post :rolf:

To me a forum should be more then "social" but give a venue to question and identify problems that someone has previously taken the time to research and resolve !!! :y

I wanted to mention the NSS, but I felt since you had already checked it, it would have been pointless to reiterate.

Engine won’t turn over…
 

Just had the same problem with my 1987 300D Turbo. Checked the fuse box and tightened what looked like a fuseable link (glow plugs?) and then the engine started again.
It worked normally for a few days and then quit again while away from home. My friend ran a direct connection from the battery to the starter solenoid and the engine cranked and started normally. When I got home and tried to start the engine again, no dice.
The problem must be between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid. Tried to start in neutral, did not work either. Tried to move the shift lever in the neutral position while trying to crank, made no difference either.
This should leave the the ignition switch. Jiggling it while trying to crank, still nothing. Must be the ignition switch. Any thoughts?

The NSS is between the ignition switch and the starter, and as mentioned above, moving the shifter does not always work. I would try jumping the NSS and see if that's it.

This thread is actually old. I changed the neutral safety switch and it works great now. Back-up lights working now too. If your back-up lights aren't working, and it won't start in park and it will start in nuetral, or if you have to wiggle the shift lever to get it to start, you probably need to change the NSS.
It was fairly easy to change.

Also, I did jump the NSS to get it to start. I recall 4 pin receptacles on the connector plug going to the NSS. I jumped the 2 closest to the rear of the vehicle and it started when the key is turned.

****It'll start in any gear if you do this though****

Engine won't turn over
 

Thanks guys, I copied all responses, two pages worth, will go over everything by the numbers and hopefully get it fixed.

Engine won't turn over
 

Mystery solved!
Nothing was worn out or broken. The car is in very good shape with only 162,000 miles. After 21 years , however, electric connections are corroding. In this case, there was next to the main fuse box an electrical connector (I think it's the one between the ignition key and the NSS switch, a flat cannon plug) I pulled the connector out of the socket and pushed it in again. This reconnected every thing and the car is cranking again normally. :-)

100,000 miles later, car still ran perfectly until this week when it would not start. The engine cranked effortlessly but showed no glow plug light on the dash. Checked the glow plug controller and the fuse was cracked. Easy enough to fix and repair.