I'm no mechanic. My 2002 Monte Carlo doesn't start right away. I have to turn the ignition switch over and wait, several times, before it turns over. I don't know if it's a bad starter or bad wiring. I have electrical problems i'm trying to sort out.
Ignition not the problem all new.
What's the safest way to turn over the engine from under the hood? I'm learning how to do a drop test.

Thanks, Wally

 

First things first, what is it doing when you attempt to start it?

Second, when you say "before it turns over" do you mean before it starts? If it starts, I am not sure what a drop test is that you are looking to do.

 

The car occasionally won't start. The occasionally is beginning to occur more often. What happens is I turn the key, the idiot lights and gauges work, I hear the fuel pump work. But that's it. The starter doesn't turn over the engine. Just nothing.
Now my experience with cars is when the starter starts to go out, it goes out. This occasional stuff suggests to me the problem is electrical.
I have just learned how to drop test a starter from a book and from youtube vids. I don't have anyone to sit and turn the key. So I need to try and start the car while under the hood.

 

I am going to admit, I am not sure what a "drop test" is and I don't understand why it involves turning the engine over.
You can put a sock and a long ratchet on the bolt for the crank pulley/balancer and rotate the engine that way. But I am curious what you are looking for....

When the car does not start, do you hear any sound from the starter? Any attempt to crank? Also, when it does not start, if you leave the key in the "on" position and look at the message center, does the "security" message show up? If so, it sounds like it is getting stuck in theft mode.

Also, what finally seems to be the trick to getting it to start?

 

Voltage drop test, Maniac. I need to send power to the starter without cranking the engine. Test with multimeter the positive post of the battery to positive post on starter, same with negative and starter case. I need the resistance for these three points. I don't have anyone to turn the ignition for me while I'm under the hood.
The car starts fine sometimes and other times not. When it doesn't start I try to crank a few times, let it sit a while and usually it cranks. When it's not cranking I hear the fuel pump work but no turning of the starter.
I don't want to buy a new starter just to find the problems still there.
I suppose I could just replace the starter wiring and see if that works. But, since I'm trying to learn to work with electronics I thought I'd use the multimeter first.

Thanks, Wally

 

AHH! OK, now I understand. Ultimately, you may need a second person. But being honest, I am not sure I would do this yet.....

I 100% understand not wanting to buy and replace a starter if that is NOT the issue. Just so I am clear, when the car does not start, it will not crank (zero sound from the starter) but you hear the fuel pump engage, correct? If so, I go back to my earlier question. When this situation of no-start happens, if you leave the key in the "on" position and look at the message center of the instrument cluster..... Is one of the items cycling through the word "Security"? If so, the car has detected a theft issue and as such will not crank the starter.

If this is NOT the case, some free and old school things you can try:
- use a small hammer and tap on the started a couple of times. Re-try starting the car.
- Inspect and clean terminal connections on the starter and battery. A simple disconnect and light scrub with a wire brush is typically sufficient.

You description is really sounding like a possible anti-theft issue and checking for that Security message is the tell-tale if that is what is going on.