# 1998 Buick Century - Will not start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-buick-century-will-not-start/167714>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** buick\
**Created:** [July 22, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-buick-century-will-not-start/167714 "2020-07-22T19:47:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![terryd51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@terryd51](https://community.cartalk.com/u/terryd51)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-buick-century-will-not-start/167714/1 "2020-07-22T19:47:53Z")

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the car doesnt start. wont even turn over. took battery and had it tested. put in new termsanil bolts and hooked back up…lights come on when switched on. car does nothing when try turning it on

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**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-buick-century-will-not-start/167714/2 "2020-07-23T01:16:56Z")

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Beyond the _terminal_ bolts, what else have you checked or replaced? Are the cables in good condition? Terminals clean? My offhand guess is a bad starter but that’s all it is.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-buick-century-will-not-start/167714/3 "2020-07-23T03:49:50Z")

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My WAG is neutral safety switch.

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-buick-century-will-not-start/167714/4 "2020-07-24T19:15:41Z")

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If moving the shifter to the neutral position doesn’t change things then check to see if applying voltage to the starter solenoid ignition contact makes the starter work. If that works then power isn’t getting to that point and something is not connected properly in the starter circuit to the solenoid. Most likely a safety switch problem.