2001 Lesabre not starting

[Griemar]

I have a Lesabre that ran fine a few hours ago. I came home, had lunch and when I tried to leave again, it refuses to start. I turn the key and have power to everything. When I turn the key to start, everything dims out and nothing. I can hear the starter solenoid click in and I can also hear a click from the rear. Battery checks out OK also. Could it be starter? Ignition coil? Computer? Ugh,this is frustrating.

Thanks

 

[MelsRegal]

How did you test the battery? Did you use a voltmeter and get a reading of 12.35 or more? Did you check the battery cables for tightness with a wrench?

 

[Spriteman]

As MelsRegal asks - how was the battery checked? The battery must be load tested - just getting a voltmeter reading of 12v won't work.

If the battery was/does check good with a load test then take the battery cables off and clean them well - take all of the separate wires off and clean in between them as well before reassembling.

Then clean the ground connections where they connect to the frame - this is a common corrosion point and can cause a lot of weird problems.

You could also try jumping 12v from the battery directly to the starter with a remote starter - if that works then you know the battery and starter are good and the problem is somewhere in the middle.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Griemar]

Yesterday I spent some time trying to figure this out. I used a volt meter to check the batteries voltage, which was good. Then I also pulled the battery out of my buddies pickup and put that in. Interesting enough, same exact thing. Turn the key and have power. turn to start and everything dimmed out, ect.. We then proceeded to start tracing wires, thinking that maybe a wire broke off, but again we were unsuccessful.

 

[HotZ28]

You could have a bad starter!

 

[jotto]

Sorry to hear that you have the same problem that I have with a 2002 LeSabre that I just bought used. It ran perfectly, but when I returned home, I spent some time with turning the key in the dark to examine the instrument cluster and electronic set up.

I have not been able to start it again. The security light went on and I think the Anti Theft Deterrent Module might have started to reprogram my key transponder. I had the extra key and tried that one thinking that maybe I needed a new battery in the keys and/or the main Battery. After changing all batteries and still no turning of the motor when tuning the ignition key, I am thinking that the Pass-Key III operation shut down the fuel and ignition if, by repeatedly turning the two keys I started a reprogramming process that damaged my key transponder. I checked fuses, like the owners manual says to do, but they were OK.

Is there any hope of avoiding the towing of a perfectly running car to the dealer for a complete security system makeover?