# 2003 Sable, 70K miles, won't start....sometimes **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 4, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100 "2013-05-04T05:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![macans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@macans](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macans)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100/1 "2013-05-04T05:31:42Z")
This Sable doesn’t make a sound when we turn the key to start it, sometimes. When it does start it runs fine, has a new battery, and the starter looks good. ---
**Author:** ![macans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@macans](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macans)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100/2 "2013-05-04T05:32:35Z")
P.S. The engine doesn’t make a sound, but ALL the dashboard lights go on. ---
**Author:** ![antmanzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@antmanzero](https://community.cartalk.com/u/antmanzero)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100/3 "2013-05-04T05:52:26Z")
Does the starter click when you turn the key? Are all the wires hooked up properly? Could be a range of things from a busted starter to a few messed up wires, could be a bad ignition switch thing (Those of you who do this for a living, I make up words. Close enough.) It could even be a seized engine, which, unless you’re out of oil, shouldn’t happen. (Oil conveniently is a good thing to check while you’re in there) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 6:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100/4 "2013-05-04T06:19:25Z")
It seems to me if the engine was seized, it wouldn’t be an intermittent problem @macans what do you mean by “the starter looks good” ? When it doesn’t start, connect a voltmeter to the starter and try again. If voltage is getting to the starter and it’s not even cranking over, the starter has failed. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 6:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100/5 "2013-05-04T06:29:27Z")
Maybe the neutral safety switch (a.k.a. a range selector switch) has gotten iffy. Try shifting into neutral to see if it will start when it acts up again. This test is not 100% definitive but can point to a range switch problem. ---
**Author:** ![macans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@macans](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macans)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 8:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100/6 "2013-05-04T08:47:22Z")
I had the car looked at by a mechanic and was told “the starter looks good.” I am not sure if it was connected to a voltmeter though. Hopefully this was done, and I will try to find out more. Also, next time I will try shifting into neutral when it happens again. Thank you for the replies! ---
**Author:** ![macans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@macans](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macans)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-sable-70k-miles-wont-start-sometimes/79100/7 "2013-05-04T09:43:16Z")
One other thing that happens I forgort to mention earlier, is when it won’t start and we let it sit for about an hour, it will start next try.