Engine won't crank

[micheleb156]

1989 STS Engine won't crank new starter, alternator, battery serpentine belt, plugs, wires, idler pulley...... Won't crank over turn the key and nothing anybody have any suggestions as to why? What might be causing this?

[Harry Yarnell]

Can't remember if the '89 STS has Passkey or not, but that feature could be problematic. PRNDL switch is another possibility. Dead battery caused by an internal light being on...these are the first things I'd look at. There are many other possibilities. Do the lights work? Radio?

[carnut]

Were all these items replaced to hopefully get the engine to crank over? does the battery pass a load test? Does the car have a factory alarm or any aftermarket alarm? do the headlights dim when the key is turned to the start position?

[chubbyranger]

If its dead nothing - no solenoid click or starter engagement its likely the VATS system. Two little wires in the steering column that have a tendancy to break over time and cause the anti-theft system to engage. Search on VATS or VATS bypass. If you can find and jump the starter enable relay you can determine if that is the problem. Also read up on 'neutral safety switch' although those failing is much less frequent.

[Krashed989]

Put the shifter in Neutral and try it. If it starts up fine with the car in neutral, it's a bad neutral safety switch.