[Alan in AZ]

I have no idea what you are all talking about....

Does the car fail to crank? (starter does not engage) or does it crank without starting?

Cranking is NOT turning the key - it is the process of the starter rotating the engine... (like with a hand crank in the old days).

What you actually described is not the former case - but that's what all the answers so far relate to... please explain exactly what is happening.

Alan