Damn daily driver!
 

Just when I decide to stop waiting for the last nice day of the year and just take the Miata out of driving commission to start with the turbo install, things hit the fan.

My daily driver, a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am, won't start. I turn the car off at my mailbox last night, come back, and the engine won't turn over. Not a battery problem. Not a fuse, not a relay, starter spins when you jump it...

So last night I spent most of the night putting the Miata all back together and getting it semi-presentable to drive to work today.

Looks like this turbo project is on hold for even longer. :vash:

Oh yeah, and none of that "You bought GM, you had it coming" BS. My dad is a chief engineer with GM...I have to buy them. And I like them. ;)

Does it sound like the starter is just "free wheeling"- as in no load on it? It may be that the solenoid is not engaging the starter gear to the flex plate teeth, and therefore not cranking the engine over. Happened to me before on a buick v6.

Ignition switch?

The starter isn't freewheeling...it isn't doing anything. Voltmeter shows no power to the starter when trying to crank. I don't think it is the ignition switch, either, as the starter relay clicks when "cranking." When trying to crank, the dang thing dims headlights and acts exactly as if it would start, but no motion at the starter. Only a Service Engine Soon light. Something isn't allowing power to the starter. No code scanner, so who knows.

Sounds like one or more of the brushes in the starter are worn, did you try the 'hammer' trick?

Yup. Nothing.

Car is at a shop now. I've never had my car towed to a shop before...I don't like this one bit. We'll see how much they rape me in $

sounds like a bad starter, not to bad to fix on most cars, ive had this happen to me on a couple of cars

Yeah, on most cars. From looking, it looked like either the exhaust has to come off, or drop the subframe to get it out. Oh well...let the shop deal with it...I don't have the time right now.

I am going to school to be a chief engineer, my dreams are to work for GM and help design the cars. Hook me up! Or at least let me talk with your father ha ha

Ha ha; sorry to tell you this, but the chief engineer has no part in the "design" of the vehicle. That's for the artsy-fartsy people.

I dont care about the appearance silly butt

"Design" is a tricky word at GM...the "designers" get very upset when the word design is tied to an engineer. I guess they're not confident enough to share the word ;)