Pontiac Repair: my 1989 poniac grand am wont start, 12 volt battery, poniac

Question
when you turn the key it dose nuthing.. my sterio and everything works but it will not start.. i put a new battarie in and then pulled out the started and cylinoid? (spelling sorry) and put a new cyliniod on and i cant get the starter back in... i need to know how to put it in and if there could be a diffrent reason for my car not starting... Thank you!

Answer
Hi Harlen:

well what engine does this have a 2.5 4 cylinder or a quad 4 2.3 4 cylinder? The quad 4 starter is hard to get back lined up again in the block the 2.5 is relaivly easy. as for it nor starting when you crank the engine over you should have a 12 volt battery craank signal "voltage" on the purple wire at the strater the samll wire. You should also have battery powr on the big red wire. is you do not have power on the small purple wire you have to follor it back to find out where you are loosing that signal. it could be a park/neutral switch on the transmission or a bad ignition switch or even a bad fuable link for the ignition switch. these are just a few ideas as to why it may not start, Good luck :)