Hi my starter motor won't fire when I turn the key. All dash lights light up, Battery is good, Starter motor works if I short it manually engages & turns the motor over. I have made sure it is par

problem can be loose battery terminals
dirty battery terminals ( must be shiny clean on both terminals and battery posts) loose battery connections
bad battery ( have a load test done on the battery)

Turn on headlamps and try to start. If it clicks and dims the lights either you have bad connections at the battery or starter; bad solenoid or starter, or engine his locked up. If lights do not dim, bad solenoid or ignition switch most likely.

Is the battery fully charged and all cables clean and tight? You can try tapping on starter motor with a blunt object while trying to crank it. If it starts, the starter motor is bad

You need to test the start wire at the starter when the key is turned to crank position to make sure it has power during cranking. Sometimes tapping on the starter motor with a hammer while cranking will engage a bad starter motor

Check connection battery,could be starter.

you have a shorted battery (have it tested) or there is a loose connection. A starter motor pulls a large amount of current when it engages, a loose conection or shorted battery will all the voltage away from the dash,lights etc.

When you say no spark, are you talking about the spark plugs, or just the general wiring?

If the engine won't turn over, then it isn't moving, and if it isn't moving then you need to check the following in this order:

1) Does the battery have power i.e. around 12.4 volts or over?No? Charge, test or replace battery.

2) Do the car's head lights dim considerably if turned on when attempting to crank? Yes? Possible lack of battery charge or faulty battery.

3) Assuming the battery is fine, can you turn the dash warning lights on and off with the key? No? Faulty ignition switch.

4) Is there a click sound when you turn the key, but no starter motor spin? Check starter motor connections or replace starter motor.


If none of the above prove to be of help, then please report.

Probably a starter. It sounds like the starter solenoid is working, but the starter motor is not energizing.

You could try this simple trick, but Im about 85% sure you have a bad starter.

Have a buddy help you push the vehicle in neutral for a short distance. When you get it moving at a walking pace, put the transmission in Drive, and let the vehicle come to a stop. You may hear a little clicking, but thats OK, it wont hurt anything. Put the transmission back in Park and try to start the engine again. Sometimes the starter gear gets stuck on the flywheel and it wont engage when you try to start the engine. This trick may move the flywheel a little so the starter can engage.

Hi Vernon, There could be a number of different reasons why your vehicle is failing to start. The battery voltage could be dropping during start and become unable to engage the starter motor to turn the engine. You can check this by trying the key with the head lights switched on. If the lights become very dim, you'll need to check the battery, meaning clean the terminals and then try to start with a jump from another battery. If you achieve start up and it fails again the following morning, you will probably need to replace the battery. There could be a problem with the starter relay or a loose contact for the starter motor, most lik3ely the one connecting to the soliniod. It would be good to know some additional information, such as does a clicking sound come from the starter when engaged? Is there a perceptible drop in voltage output when the starter is engaged? does the enine turn at all? Try what I've suggested and if that does not solve the problem answer the questions and let me know anything else which you may think is relevant. Regards John

Hi, if you give the starter motor a good tap with a hammer to get it to work, if that works then you will need a new startermotor very soon, good luck.