03 sonoma wont turn over

[TDH]

Today my dads 03 sonoma with the 4.3 engine all of a sudden decided it doesn't want to turn over. he said it didn't give any sort of warning or anything. He drove home from work then went to go somewhere a little while later and nothing. All the dash lights, headlights, and radio will come on but when you turn the key all the way it doesn't make any noise at all. The service engine light and battery light stay when the key is in the on position I don't know if thats normal or not. Any guesses to the problem?

[deadeye]

I would have the battery checked out.

Check the cables going to and from the starter for wear and tear.

If the battery checks out make sure the starter is getting power to the little wire when the key is switched to start.

Assuming its getting power when the key is switched on the your looking at pulling the starter and bench testing it.

[jwhjr]

Have to ask the obvious question, is it in Park? If it is, does the vehicle "know" it's in Park? I know sometimes that can go bad. Can't remember what it's called.

[Big Buck Buster]

Have to ask the obvious question, is it in Park? If it is, does the vehicle "know" it's in Park? I know sometimes that can go bad. Can't remember what it's called.

Park/Neutral switch or Neutral safety switch.

This is pretty easy to check: using a 12volt test light, find the "s" terminal on the starter(this is the small wire), have someone turn the key into the start position while you have the test light on the "s" terminal. You should have a good bright light every time the key is put into the start position. If you don't, you could have a bad park/neutral switch, or open in the wire, or blown crank fuse in the fuse block. Check the fuse first.

Check the main cable to the starter for power. If there is power, try cranking over: the light should still stay bright, if not, you have bad cable(s), or bad connections. If light stays bright, try tapping on the starter, it may crank over. If all power/ground is good for starter/ replace starter.

[jwhjr]

Did you ever figure out what the issue was?

[TDH]

The solenoid on the starter fried. One of the wires shorted out or something and the black cap on the end exploded. That explains why it just stopped working without any warning.