Help with my 1995 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight (2015, spark plugs, best, chip)

[Sedona1952]

I have an 1995 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight. The other day I was doing some running around and when I came out of the hospital my car would not start. It was completely dead.

I called ACSC and they came out to jump the car but it still refused to start.
All day long the car was fine, whats the deal LOL

OK, Lets see, all the lights work, radio works, air, etc. It just wont start?

I think it could be a few things but which one. Neutral safety switch, Starter,
Starter solenoid, the battery, the ignition or the keys, they have a chip?

Am I missing anything? How do I narrow it down ?

Sedona

Moderator note: moved from Los Angeles forum

[bobman]

Is the starter motor turning, or is it totally dead ?

[Sedona1952]

My Husband says it is clicking, I also noticed the the light under the letters like P,R,N etc are all lite up not just one like Under P.
Sedona

[bobman]

If it's just clicking, then my first suspect would be a failed starter motor.
The neutral switch is a possibility, but I doubt the starter would click if that switch had failed, normally nothing would happen.
It could be an immobiliser problem, but again, I'd expect either nothing at all to happen, or for it to turn over on the starter, but not fire.


I'd suspect by '95 that the starter and solenoid would come together as a unit, although if there's any Olds experts out there who know different, I'd stand to be corrected.

Originally Posted by Sedona1952

My husband says it is clicking, also I notice that when I move the gear shift the lights under the letters are all lite not just under park ?

[Sedona1952]

TY For your answers, I am just praying the transmission is ok ... Hence the lights all being lite at the same time under the letters. The car ran fine all day till we went to the hospital. We went in stayed for a while and when we came out nothing ! Even AAA could not get it started. They even tapped on the starter.
Sedona

[bobman]

Unfortunately, starters are just one of these items which will fail with no notice.
One minute they're fine, and the next, "poof".

Start your investigations in that direction first.
If the trans was working before, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be ok if the starter broke.

Originally Posted by Sedona1952

TY For your answers, I am just praying the transmission is ok ... Hence the lights all being lite at the same time under the letters. The car ran fine all day till we went to the hospital. We went in stayed for a while and when we came out nothing ! Even AAA could not get it started. They even tapped on the starter.
Sedona

[Sedona1952]

Many Thanks ... Sedona

[TurcoLoco]

Moderator cut: orphaned statement
That said, you obviously narrowed down the main 3 possibilities (compression/fuel/fire) to electrical. So, you have compression (engine is fine), you are definitely getting fuel(?), then fire/electrical is the culprit.

I am no mechanic or an expert by any means but if your radio and other relevant equipment has juice then it is clearly a component between battery and the spark plugs (including the plugs). Disconnect one of the spark plugs and have someone cranks the car to see if you are getting any spark, probably not. From that point backward, continue troubleshooting.

Typically the sounds coming out from the engine area (or lack thereof) when you are igniting would give you the best clues. Check for smell or burnt wires, etc.

Good luck!

[Sedona1952]

OK I found the problem ... but we don't know how to adjust it ... or if I need a new one. We found the Neutral Safety Switch was really loose. My Husband tightened it up but I click the engine over about 3 times and it stops working ... and sometime the lights under each letters are wrong. Do we need a new switch ? Is there a way to adjust this one ?
Many Thanks Sedona

[Sedona1952]

Is there a trick to this LOL