As I take the car apart, I'm looking for opinions as to what it would be. It's been fine the past few weeks, I get off of work, go the gas station, fill up, and BAM no start! I can turn the key to the ignition and nothing happens at all, engine doesn't turn, nothing. I already checked the battery. I'm wondering since the shifter has been getting some freeplay in it recently if the car just isn't recognizing that it's in N or P? Or is it the starter? Thanks for info guys, I'm supposed to be taking a 300 mile trip tomorrow and this is gonna make it a lot more difficult if the car doesn't start, and I don't wanna push it that far lol.

 

I would opt for the Park/neutral switch at the shifter first. Try playing with it to see if it will start.

 

OK, I've played with the linkage, and don't think that it's it, the I can feel through the gears, no play in park, steering locks, etc etc.

Also for more info, when I turn it on the fuel pump engages, battery is fine, so now I'm wondering if it could be the starter? Any ways to test it easily? Thanks guys

 

that happened to me over night one time, went to my local autostore bought 2 battery cables and everything worked after that

edit: just seen you said the fuel pump goes so obvisoulsy thers electrical.....darn......good luck man

 

Does your car have the vats system(key with pellet in it)? If so this could be your problem.

 

Neutral safety swith (test it), blown fusable link, blown fuse or dead starter. No VATS in '87.

 

Dollars to donuts its your starter. You noted earlier that you drove to the gas station and filled it up, then it wouldn't start. This is a classic GM starter issue. If you get gage lights, but nothing when you turn it over, it is most likely your starter. It's likely not a battery issue (if you have your lights on and you get a VERY noticable dimming of the lights when you try to turn it over, then it might be a battery thing). Another quick check you can make--when the car won't start, try lightly tapping the starter with a hammer (seriously). Often that is enough to get the vehicle to turn over. I've been through this starter issue twice in the last year.

 

You'd get a "theft-deterent" message if that were the case. VATS keys can be finicky, but usually they give you a heads up by posting their little warning.

 

The members car is an 87 GTA and like Red Devil has stated in his post earlier, VATS is not an issue here since it was not available in 1987. He has mentioned having some play in his shifter and it was suggested that might be the problem. He can get under the car and have some one try to start the car and put a test light to the small post marked "S" on the starter solenoid and ground. If he has power there then that would eliminate the Park/Neutral switch as the culprit. This is assuming that he doesn't have a remote starter. He also doesn't mention if he has a after market alarm system with a kill switch on it.He should take the shifter console off and see if the Park/Neutral switch has become loose as it has sometimes done to others.

 

I was aware of that, I was mostly posting in reference to VATS key issues in general, rather than specifically to this particular case. I probably wasn't clear on that, however.