I have a 97 neon that will not start. I have replaced the battery and starter on the car. When I turn the key I get a thump sound and the engine does not want to start. All the gauges work but still nothing. Please help, thank you.

 

try turning the engine over by hand, sounds like it may be seized. you can turn it over by removing all the spark plugs and then the passenger tire and then the splash guard. the pully you see is directly connected to the crank shaft. use an extension and a breaker bar and turn it clockwise. Go easy it should turn with little effort.

 

Ok, just tried that and nothing. Could it just be a relay switch?

 

When you try to crank the motor, you say you hear a thump. Is that in addition to the sounds of the motor turning over "trying" to start?

If it is turning over, then you need to check to see if fuel is getting to the fuel rail, and spark getting to the plugs.

For fuel, get a fuel pressure tester (borrow one) and see what your reading is there.

For sparks, get an inline spark tester.

 

check to make sure the connections are tight on the starter. fuel pressure should be at 49 psi. then check for spark.