Q: turn key, dash lights come on, gauges work, but nothing from the engine, is it the starter?

asked by on August 24, 2016

as i said in the question, the starter has been giving me some issues, a mechanic at firestone said it could be something wrong with the gear thats inside the starter, it may be missing a tooth, if so, josteling the starter might fix that right? i hate the hit it approach, but if it will start my car.....where do i kick

My car has 70000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Starter Replacement $169.22 - $1153.49 Get a Quote

You need to make sure you are getting the signal to the starter through the transmission shift sensor. If you try and move the shifter to neutral and move the shifter holding the brake and then try to crank the engine. If it still does not crank, then check for power to the starter motor solenoid and replace the starter if you get power but have to tap starter to get it to turn.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

What Happens If My Clutch Is Slipping?
Your clutch is what connects the engine to the manual transmission. When a clutch is working correctly, you will get a smooth clutch engagement with little to no chatter. When the clutch is fully engaged, you will have a solid...
Rattling sound coming from beneath steering wheel
The most common cause of this would be a clicking relay or something else that is loose. This is a more uncommon issue that will require diagnosis to confirm. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able...
Overheating problem
Hello there, thank you for asking about your 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais. With the other items replaced and a continued overheating situation, you may want to consider replacing the coolant water pump. Any time a vehicle overheats, it is a...
ABS light is ON in my Toyota camry 2011 model of mileage 54,000.
Hi there. Congrats on replacing the speed sensor and correcting that code. The other codes that are stored may take some time to properly assess. Has the battery and alternator been tested? Have them both tested with digital testers that...
Car misfiring after timing belt was replaced. 1997 Honda Civic
Hello - obviously, you still have a timing belt issue (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-timing-belt). From a safety point of view, and the real possibility that further, even catastrophic, damage could be done to your engine, I would not drive it further before repairs...
Tappet noise oud, rough idle 2009 Ford Focus
Hi there - the valve mechanism on your Zetec engine uses solid lifters (or cam followers to be more precise), and need to be adjusted periodically. As you mention, the delayed maintenance may not be helping here as well. I...
Will a oxygen sensor cause your transmission to stop pulling
A faulty oxygen sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-oxygen-sensor) will cause the engine to run less efficiently (use more gas than usual) and may degrade engine performance to some extent. However, failure of the oxygen sensor itself can not cause the transmission to fail...
Car runs hot after short drive. Replaced thermostat and radiator fan assembly.
It sounds like you may have a water pump that may not be pumping correctly or may be failing. Generally, when a water pump is going bad, you may hear a bit of a whining sound combined with the pump...
Starting to hear a faint grinding noise from rear while car is in motion could it be the drum brakes ?
Hi Kenney. Thanks for writing in to YourMechanic.com tonight. Usually the type of noise you are describing is caused by wheel bearings that are wearing out. The rear brakes are hardly used on your Corolla, but it is possible that...

Related articles

What Causes a Car to Stall?
You trust your car. You may not think about it, but you believe that certain functions will occur without fail. You may be aware...
How to Use Autostick
Autostick gives drivers with automatic transmissions the feel of a manual car. It allows the driver to upshift and downshift for extra control.
How to Replace a Transmission Speed Sensor
Transmission speed sensors accurately calculate a car's road speed. If this sensor is faulty, a Check Engine Light will indicate the driver.