Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: wont start/crank...everything goes black, neutral safety switch, starter solenoid

Question
I know this isnt a olds question but you were maxed out in hte chevy forum..   1988 chevy cavalier. 2.0L,automatic,no tilt steering.  Go to turn on the car...key in on position there is power, turn to crank and nothing. Everything goes black, buzzing sound from a relay by the battery.  Took the starter of and tested at parts store. Blew their fuses and wouldnt do anything. Battery is good, new starter. have a suspicion it is the starter relay but dont want to replace it if it isnt the problem.  Can you give any suggestions and tell me where this relay is and what the symptoms would be if it were bad and/or how to check it. Checked all fuses under dash and hooked up to my scanner. no codes.

Thanks

Answer
Hello Tony,
Sounds like your starter was shorted internally, or the solenoid mounted on it was shorted.
That could have caused damage to the ignition switch, or the neutral safety switch, which could be why the new one doesn't work.
Everything turning black, though, sounds like a dirty or loose battery connection. Check both ends of both cables.
Also, if your battery has both top and side connections, have the battery tested at the connections that are used by the car. I have seen them check out very good at the other post, but not make good contact inside the battery at the side connector.
A load test is what is needed.
Then, if the battery is good tested that way, which may be the way it was tested already, then at the starter, if you use a jumper wire to jump from the terminal where the battery cable connects to the starter solenoid, to the smaller terminal where the wire from the ignition switch connects, the starter should crank the engine.

If you try to test it that way, make sure the shift is in neutral, and the parking brake is set. Also, be clear of any fan belts, blades, etc.
If jumping that way, the car will crank while in gear, because you bypass the ignition switch, neutral safety switch, clutch switch, and any safety switches, so you must make certain it is safe.

If it cranks the engine that way, then follow the wires back till you find where the problem is. You can do that with a test light, and an assistant turning the key as you tell them. On the small wire at the starter, the light should light when the ign is turned to start. Follow it back till you get it to light.
You may find that a fusible link is burned, which is like a in line fuse in the wire to the ignition switch.

Good luck,
Van