Disconnected battery cable and reconnected, now starter wont engage Options

[ericoneal]

I disconected the positive (and neg) cables. Reconnected, and now the car wont start. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) The dash lights and fuel pump come on, headlights are bright, battery is fully charged, but no click or anything. I checked all of the fuses under the steering wheel and 3 of them on the firewall by the battery and all are good.
Are there other fuses that I am missing? SHe has always fired up, really frustrated....

[stugray]

Have you tried to jump the solenoid?

That was my first thought just stick a screw driver across both terminals (what I would do)

But here's the right way for those scared of that:
1 - use an idiot light and see if you have voltage at the starter
2 - use the idiot light to see if you get voltage at the solenoid when someone turns the key

If yes to both, it is wired and you havent blown a fuse.
3 - Put a voltmeter across your battery while turning the key.
If voltage drops significantly (below ~11) then you have a bad battery or the starter/solenoid has a short.

If the voltage at the battery stays up (>12) the battery is good and your connection to the starter is poor
4 - Put a voltmeter across the starter while turning the key.
If it stays high, your starter is bad

HTH Stu

EDIT - just read where you are not even hearing a faint click, so #4 is unlikely (steps are still all good though)

[ericoneal]

1 and 2 are both getting power and I have tried 2 different batteries that I know are good. No idea how this shouldnt at least be clicking. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

Have you tried to jump the solenoid?

That was my first thought just stick a screw driver across both terminals (what I would do)

But here's the right way for those scared of that:
1 - use an idiot light and see if you have voltage at the starter
2 - use the idiot light to see if you get voltage at the solenoid when someone turns the key

If yes to both, it is wired and you havent blown a fuse.
3 - Put a voltmeter across your battery while turning the key.
If voltage drops significantly (below ~11) then you have a bad battery or the starter/solenoid has a short.

If the voltage at the battery stays up (>12) the battery is good and your connection to the starter is poor
4 - Put a voltmeter across the starter while turning the key.
If it stays high, your starter is bad

HTH Stu

EDIT - just read where you are not even hearing a faint click, so #4 is unlikely (steps are still all good though)