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[Figureman52]

Car started easily yesterday morning, drove about half mile to in laws house and stopped normally. On leaving tried to start, the demister fan was running on full so could not hear anything from the engine but car did not start.

All the regular light on the dash were showing as they would when turning on the ignition to position 2 but on turning to position 3 nothing happens.

Nothing dims, the headlights are still bright, I can't hear any clicking from the starter, just the usual buzzing from under the bonnet as things adjust.

Looking through posts on here I have tried putting 12v on the small solenoid connection direct from the battery whilst in neutral with the ignition in position 2 but still nothing.

Any advice would be most welcome.

Thank you.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Others will no doubt be on to advise, but I had all that when my crank sensor failed.

[LC0112G]

If it won't turn over at all, then it won't be crank sensor.

Either starter motor solenoid, ignition switch, auto box neutral/park detector (only if it's an auto obvs!), or immobiliser (has the chip somehow fallen out of the key?)

[Doctor Gollum]

If it won't turn over at all, then it won't be crank sensor.

Either starter motor solenoid, ignition switch, auto box neutral/park detector (only if it's an auto obvs!), or immobiliser (has the chip somehow fallen out of the key?)

To the last point, it would still crank

[cam.in.head]

if you are sure the battery is not flat and correctly connected then putting 12v to the starter small terminal and it not working confirms starter failure( solenoid anyway)
100% check starter bolts and wires are tight. and check 12v is present at the starter big wire.

[Raeturbo]

Try getting a length of wood, stair rail perhaps and give the starter motor a few whacks while someone’s turning the key, works sometimes

[Figureman52]

I shall certainly try the wood trick,
I shall check for 12v at the large connector.
If I check for 12v at the small connector presumably I will only get 12v if I turn the key to position 3, assuming the feed from the ignition barrel via the auto selector is intact?

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Transmission starter inhibitor switch could also be the problem ? 

[johnnydog]

If the transmission starter inhibitor switch is working ok, with the ignition on and in park, whenever you press the brake pedal, you should hear a strong click from around the gear lever area. If you don't hear the click, then that may be your problem, and you also won't be able to move the gear lever out of park.
But equally, I have had the exact same symptoms as you describe on two V6's - each time it was corrosion in the starter motor solenoid which basically prevented the starter from turning when turned to the cranking position. Water can drip down the bulkhead / scuttle area at back of the engine directly onto the starter. The solenoid body is sealed with a sealant which deteriorates over time allowing water ingress.

[cam.in.head]

bearing in mind that you have already tried putting 12v to the small starter terminal and nothing happened this eliminates anything on the car such as gearlever switch,immob etc. my moneys on the solenoid.either rusted up internally as johnny suggested or open circuit.
if the solenoid is found to be the culprit its still worth opening up the starter and cleaning it.a cam cover oil leak can fill the starter up and drench the comm and brushes

[LC0112G]

Having looked at the circuits, I now agree with cam.in.head and DG.

When you touch a live +12V wire onto the small starter terminal there should be a loud 'clunk' as the solenoid pulls in. If it doesn't 'clunk', then either the solenoid is open circuit, or the moving barrel part of it is rusted/siezed up. If it's siezed up then a few clouts with a lump hammer might get it free enough to start for now, but likely you're gonna need a new starter motor sooner rather than later.

[Raeturbo]

That’s why I recommend a bit of wood in case he shorted everything out with a hammer/bar etc👍

[omegod]

Exact same symptoms on a Calibra, £8 ignition switch resolved it

[Doctor Gollum]

Exact same symptoms on a Calibra, £8 ignition switch resolved it

Certainly easier than trying to get at the starter

[LC0112G]

Exact same symptoms on a Calibra, £8 ignition switch resolved it

Certainly easier than trying to get at the starter

Yebbut, if touching a 12V wire on the small (solenoid) connector of the starter motor doesn't even make it 'clunk' then it ain't the ignition switch (or the auto gearbox park/neutral switch).