Car Starting Problem?

Check the earth lead from the battery to the car body and find the one that goes from the engine to the car body. One of them may have come loose. Sounds like the problem i had a few weeks ago and that's all it was.

not enough info here...did the starter crank the engine over or was there no sound at all when you turned the key? You said the headlights were working so the battery is ok. If the starter didn't turn over check connections to the battery, starter etc. Are there any grinding noises coming from the starter? I had a nissian that had some broken teeth on the flywheel and so the starter would crank but of course the engine won't turn over. I would have to push it a little and then try again. I would take it in and have all battery cables and connections checked. While it's there have them replace the fuel filter.

Sounds like you may have corrosion around your battery terminals. It may not look like it from the outside but if you take the connections off you'll probably see it clearly on the terminals. The reason it started after you inspected the battery is because you moved the connections just enough so that electricity could get though. I have see this happen on my dad's '95 Ford F-250. If you disconnect the battery and find corrosion, you'll know it when you see it, just take a wire bush and scrub it off. If you want to do it the red neck way you can all so buy a can of Coke~cola, preferably a can, (believe me it matters), and pour it over the terminals of the battery. It should foam up a lot and just pour the can of coke on a little at a time waiting between for the foam to die down. The acid in the coke will eat away the corrosion but only if you have a little bit of it. If this doesn't work you will have to take the battery off and clean the terminals.

If the car isn't cranking Disconnect your battery terminals and clean the battery post and wire connections with a battery terminal cleaning brush. They have them at your local parts store and cost about or under 5 bucks. Then replace them and make sure they are tight enough so you can't move them by hand.Try to start your car. If it keeps starting then that was you problem.If not then

Check the connections on your starter. Make sure they're clean and tight.

If it is cranking but won't start make sure your spark plugs are getting spark. And of course if it is getting spark make sure when you turn the ignition key on you can hear the hum of the fuel pump. It would be easier to do this if you put your ear near the gas tank,Or unscrew your gas cap and listen for the Humming noise at the filler hole. While someone turns the key to the all on position without going to crank.

But from what I think you describe it should be what I said in the beginning.

have the battery cables clean, and have the battery checked it could have a low or bad cell in it, it takes less power to run the lights than crank the starter, if this does not fix it then have the starter check out, it could have a dead spot in the Bendix, the Bendix is the solenoid

your alternator is dead. The battery has some power in it, which is why your accessories are fine. Replase the Alternator beofre you have to replace it and a battery as the Alternator is not working, the car is drawing all of its electrical off the battery, not the alternator as it should

Dont sound like a serious problem... Probably a short in the starter switch... If you take it back to the people who checked it out they probably can identlfy the problem very quickly and should not cost much to get it fixed..

With the description you gave, it sounds like you might have some issues with the fuel supply to the engine. This could be as simple as replacing the fuel filter, but it could be many other things, for example, the injection ports might be clogged or the fuel pump might be going out.

Also, for future reference, sometimes the battery might have enough power to work your lights and other electrical systems with the car but not enough to crank the engine.

your fuel system got flooded when that happen again you need to press release valve located at your fuel rail or go buy you a starting and spray small amount of the fluid direct to you air flow pipe( where you air filter are) that should start right up.

check for loose wire at soloenoid switch, it is mounted on the fire wall next to battery. follow your positve cable from the battery it will run into it then from there to the starter.