Many problems can occur during the life of a vehicle, including having nothing happen when you turn the key in the ignition. If you have a 2002 Buick automobile that will not start, you will need to troubleshoot the cause of the problem. Issues that can cause the vehicle to not start include a blown fuse for the ignition switch or a battery that has been drained. You can troubleshoot these problems with some common household tools.
Locate the fuse panel under the steering wheel on the driver's side of the vehicle and remove the cover.
Pull out the fuse for the ignition switch with a fuse puller. If you do not have a fuse puller, use a pair of needle-nose pliers. Look at the diagram on the back of the fuse panel cover to locate the ignition switch fuse.
Examine the fuse to see if it is black, appears burnt or the metal strip is damaged.
Insert a new fuse into the fuse panel then replace the cover.
Insert the key into the ignition and try to start the vehicle. If you hear a clicking sound but the car does not start, the starter may be bad.
Park a second vehicle close to the hood of your vehicle. The vehicles need to be close but should not touch.
Turn on the heater fan in both vehicles. This will provide protection in case of an electrical surge. Turn off all other accessories in the vehicle that require battery power.
Connect one end of a set of jumper cables to the car battery to jump. Connect the positive clamp on one end of the cable to the positive battery terminal on your vehicle. Connect the positive clamp on the other end of the cable to the positive battery terminal on the second vehicle.
Repeat Step 4 for the negative clamps on the jumper cables
Start the second vehicle and press the gas pedal to increase the engine speed. Try to start your vehicle to see if the battery can be jumped. If the battery cannot be jumped, it is likely dead and will need to be replaced.
