My 97 chevy lumina turns over but wont start lights are bright what might this be

Follow the link for free diagrams of US sold makes http://bbbind.com/free_tsb.html

You need a new battery-
It takes a great deal more power to crank a motor than it does to light up the lights. This is why your lights still come on even though the battery does not have enough power crank the engine over. If you install a new battery keep an eye on it...if it dies quickly then you have a bad alternator.

your trans fluid is empty or close and is probbley junk now ck the level ur gonna need a replacement trans.

security light off, have someone hold the key to start and tap on the starter and see if it spins
if it does you need to replace the starter.

All you need is a new brake light switch which is mounted by the brake pedal

You need to check for power at the purple wire going to the solonoid while key is in the start position, if no juice then check starter relay-under hood- fuse ,and ignition switch

Have you tried turning up the dash light dimmer switch as bright as it can go? I will dim slightly but will still be alluminated

The starter solenoid will click when the battery is to low to start the car. Have the battery charged and load tested to make sure it's good. Check the charging system to make sure the alternator is good. Check the wire connections at the starter. If either is loose, the starter won't work.
With a full, known good battery, turn on the headlamps and try starting the engine. If the headlamps stay bright, the contacts in the solenoid are bad. If the headlamps dim greatly or go out, the starter is shorted out and must be replaced.
Also try turning the crankshaft manually with a breaker bar and socket if you suspect that the engine may have seized up.
Charlie

Had the same issue in the spring. Replace the turn signal switch. A general weakness in the switch in these years. Replacement solved the problem in my 97 Lumina.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. If you have the 97 chevy lumina Car 3.1 you dont have a distributor cap. People really dont need to post unless they know what they are saying.

Now your have 3 coils on the top of your engine water could have easily got under one of them.

Now did the car not turn over at all or did it keep turning over but did not fire up.