This problem is with my 98 Sable, please bear with me. It's kind of long. Engine is a 3.0L (vulcan). 118,000 miles

While driving the red oil light flashed on, and then all the other warning lights came on. The engine died and i coasted to the side of the highway. The engine would not start. The starter will not even turn over. Just one click is all you hear when you turn the key. One lonely click.

This is what i already did and have eliminated:
-tested battery under load. It tested OK (battery is 1 month old).
-battery cables are OK (negative cable 1 month old)
-removed the serpentine belt and tried to start. Same thing, one click from starter. Does not turn over. I thought that maybe the alternator or the A\C compressor was locked up.
-the oil level is OK.....approximately ½ a quart low...within specs.

I am beginning to wonder if the engine seized up. There wasn't any weird sounds or anything. No smoke from exhaust and nothing was overheated. One minute you're driving, the next minute all the red lights come on and you're unable to re-start.

I also checked the fuses and relays that are related to the starter/ignition system. This included the relays in the power distribution box. Everything checked out OK.

Could my starter be bad and cause the engine to die while driving at 65 mph? I would replace the starter in a heart beat if i knew that was the problem.

I turned on my headlights while trying to start the engine. They dim down very, very low, almost turning off when you turn the key and hear the 1 click. I tried jumping the battery...same thing...1 click. Any ideas on anything i might have overlooked are welcomed.

One more thing comes to mind. When i replaced the NEG battery cable, I had to crimp the secondary (pigtail) wire to the original pigtail wire that was already there. If it came loose, could this be the problem? If it is I will solder it together. I know the other end of the NEG cable that goes to the engine block is on very securely.

 

Put the belt back on, and try to turn the engine over by hand by grabbing the belt and the pulleys. You should be able to turn it.

 

How long after the oil light come on did the rest of the lights come on, and the engine quit?

 

Q. How long after the oil light come on did the rest of the lights come on, and the engine quit?

A. Almost instantly

I put on a new starter today and it does the same thing....1 click, no start. Even though the old starter failed the test at the parts store.

I will try to turn the engine over by hand and see what happens. I will update the results later.