general tech question

[MrStang123]

ok so today I had a lot of trouble starting my car. the electrical system appears to be working fine. lights work, horn works, all the gauge lights work, radio works. but when I turn the key nothing happens with the engine, no crank or nothing, I got under the car and had my gf try and start it and I heard a hissing noise coming from the area around the gas tank. Im taking it in when my mechanic is back from vacation. could it be the fuel pump or something like that? maybe crappy fuel pressure?(its a 92' cutlass btw)

 

[Roland69]

was that noise only there for a few seconds after you turned the key.

 

[Hawkeye_306]

The hissing noise is probably your electronic fuel pump. If that is the case, it has nothing to do with your no start problem.

If you have electrical power to the rest of the car, but there is no cranking, then most likely the starter solenoid or starter is bad

 

[HISSIN50]

Put a test light on the little S-terminal connector at the top of the starter solenoid. Look for 12 volts to this wire while cranking. If you dont have 12 volts there, the car wont start. Trace backwards. The two main culprits are the clutch safety switch/NSS or an open in the wiring.

This is general info that applies to all cars, though on your Cutlass you would probably have to access the starter to get to the S-terminal at its end. I would simply test it at the output (or downstream of) the NSS/clutch safety switch.

Good luck.