Push starter button just a click and everything goes dead

And the antitheft is not activated ?

It could be the starter, but I would check battery connections and voltage. When you turn the key on, there may be enough power to turn the lights on, but not enough power when the starter switch is engaged. Also, you

You still have a poor connection between the battery, starter, and ground. A bad cable, or cable terminal, or a loose connection at ground (of your battery cable), or loose connection on the starter..

Your starter button is designed to turn the headlight off when pushed in halfway so all the batteries electricity goes to the starter. The starter button is a two position switch. The starter button may be either dirty and need cleaning or is broken and needs to be replaced. If you push the button all the way in do you hear a click? If you hear a click by the battery , then the starter button is good. Follow the positive battery cable to the starter solenoid. With an old screw driver or a piece of wire touch the two terminal posts on the starter solenoid together. If your starter works now you have a bad starter solenoid. If you hold the starter button and lightly tap on the starter with a plastic hammer and the starter works, then you probably need to replace your starter brushes they are worn out.

Sounds like a classic case of a dead battery. It takes much less energy to sweep the gauges and turn on the lights than it does to crank the engine over. The clicking noise is usually your starter solenoid trying to engage and spin the starter. Try a new battery. Happy motoring.

Good luck.

check the battery ( or get a new one)
check the battery leads

I am guessing that it may be the neutral safety switch

Can you tell me if it was in fact the starter? I have an 04 Ford Taurus with 99K miles on it. This week when I started it up, not everytime but often the abs, brake, tire and traction control lights will stay on. Also the computer display will read either park brake engaged or passenger door ajar. I turn it off and start it again and the issue goes away. This morning it acted as though it had a dead battery and I had the clicking sound behind the dash as well as the vibrating needles. Thanks!

check battery connection,relay connection and battery voltage with key off then key on

Check the battery connections, especially if you hear a click just before it goes dead. I know that on my bike, when this happens, the screws that hold the battery cables in place have backed out and not getting a good contact. You would think that with a bad contact that it would stay dead when you turn the key off then back on, but oddly, everything comes back on normally until I hit the starter button. Check the cables.