starter not engaging

[NVRANUF]

Car sat a couple of months and the battery was low. drained it trying to start the car turning over slow but kept trying for about 20 seconds until no battery left. Charged the battery and had it checked, all good (optima). Thought the starter may have locked so loosened it and moved it around hoping thinking bendix was engaged.
Still nothing. Good battery but nothing is happening when I turn the key all the way to start. also checked fuses. Possibly burned the solenoid? any help out there?

[pajeff02]

Did you crank it for very long on each attempt? Only thing you can do is check your connections, the starter relay, and again verify that your battery is in fact up to snuff. I'd have to check my books to see if there is a fusible link or anything in the starter circuit. A weak battery does create havoc in the electronics on our cars.

[NVRANUF]

I read a thread about the VAT. I noticed my security light flashing. Not sure if the forced low battery cranking burnt the diode in the starter key barrel. Hope not. Tried both keys. Not making sence other than the low battery causing havoc as you said.

[sjgreen6]

Definitely check the starter relay. The GM supplied relays do go bad and can really send you on a wild goose chase. Simple test is to go in the fuse box that sits just behind the drivers side headlight and swap the starter relay with the ignition relay. They are the exact same relay and sit right next to each other in the fuse box. If the car now turns over but does not start (ignition circuit now has the bad relay) you have figured out the problem. Just replace the bad relay.