All the dash lights come on but the car won't start. Checked the battery and it is fully charged. Tried to disconnect it in hopes that things would reset but no luck. Any ideas on how to identify the problem (buy a diagnostic scanner ?) and how to I fix it?

 

1. Does the starter turn the engine over?
2. What is the battery voltage using a meter, not the gauge in the car.
3. Is the check engine light on?
4. Yes, you need a scanner.

 

Also when was it running last?

Have you had any work done on it recently?

 

The starter isn't trying to turn the engine over. Battery voltage with cables removed is 12.97 volts. All the lights are on the dash including the check engine light.

 

It was running fine just a few days ago. No work recently. Was supposed to get serviced tomorrow but I won't be able to make that. I ran the car through a wash, which I almost never do, then took the car home and covered it. If this was water related it should have dried by now. This isn't the first time this happened.

 

The engine ground cable from the bell housing to the chassis may be at fault. Disconnect and clean. If it's not that maybe the starter connections. Unfortunately, there are many other possibilities. My question about the check engine light was an error. If the engine doesn't start it will be on. It may come down to testing all the fuses, solenoids and connections.