1999 Sable: Initially took a few cranks for the car to start. ...

Fuel pump .

• The car is silent when you turn the key in the ignition. Check the battery terminal cable connections. (See How to Check Your Car Battery.) If they look very corroded, force the point of a screwdriver (with an insulated or wooden handle) between the connector and the terminal post and twist it to lodge it firmly. Then try to start the engine. If it starts, you need to clean or replace your cables.

• The car makes a clicking noise but won't start. This sound usually means a dead battery. If not, check the wiring to and from the starter for a loose connection.

• The car cranks over but won't start. Check the fuel supply to your engine. If that's okay, check whether the electrical spark is getting to your spark plugs.

• The engine starts but dies. If your car has a carburetor, check your carburetor adjustment and your choke to see whether the choke is first closing and then opening. If you have fuel injection, you'll need professional help.

You need to have your flywheel: replaced.Your starter motor engages against the fly wheel at the back of the motor. Every time your motor stops it tends to be in the same few positions (just the way things work) so there is more stress on some parts of your fly wheel than others. Because of this the teeth wear out on the fly wheel which means the starter can correctly engage on the fly wheel which is the grinding noise.

Lets start at the beginning.
You say it cranks but will not start, right ?
The warning lights are supposed to come on with the key on and then go off once the engine starts.
If the engine cranks but will not start, someone will need to figure out if it is lacking fuel to the injectors or spark to the plugs, or something else. One way we check it is to look for spark at the plugs, check the fuel pressure, and try starting fluid in the throttle body.

If the car does not have a security system, I would check for voltage at the starter from the battery and from the key switch.
The power from the key switch goes thru the neutral safety switch before getting to the starter.

make sure the air filter lid has been put back into proper place, if they left it loose the engine would **** more air while trying to start, so you need more fuel to balance it out.

try running a wire from the + on the battery to the small electrical connector on the solonoid on the starter motor ,turn ign on then use wire to crank engine ,if it cranks but will not start then dealer only in case its the immobilisor

check for 12 volts at battery with engine off.

The check for 14 volts with the engine running. If not 14, alternator is not generating any amperage.

Check the vacuum hose attached to the fuel pressure regulator under the hood next to your intake pull it off and see if any fuel is present, if there is replace regulator.you may have to tap hose with your finger to get any fuel out or start vehicle run until hot then shut off and recheck if no fuel present in vacuum line let me know and we can try something else.

Sounds like you need to clean the battery terminals and check and see if the battery needs charging or replacing. Good Luck.