Won't crank is terminologically identical to won't turn over in my book. Cranking is the process of turning the engine (rotating it; turning it over like flipping a hamburger, etc) with a starting mechanism (electric starter? hand crank? whatever?) in order to make it START. So cranking is turning the engine over. The engine has only started when it runs on its own after the starter is disengaged. The startER has done its work; the engine is now startED.

I agree with whunter way up there: won't crank and won't start are the only two terms with any real meaning. Other synonyms should be made to equal one or the other of those two terms. We don't need a separate one for starts-and-then-dies; just say starts-and-then-dies.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL