1995 grand prix intermittent no-start

[pat112]

hello, new to the forum, here is my delima, sometimes get a no-start on my car, turn key, nothing have dash lights and headlights, but they do not dim when i turn key, car will also not start in neutral, Had lock cylinder with vats wires replaced, and neutral safety switch was cleaned and adjusted. I even try using remote start and will not with that. this happens every few days or can go a week before problem starts again.

[Tech II]

Scanned for codes? Check for corrosion at battery terminals and starter?

Since this is intermittant, you will have to start the car this way, to eliminate a possible problem.......turn key to on(don't turn to crank), look at SECURITY light, it should go out in 3-5 seconds......if it doesn't, you have a PassKey problem, and the car won't crank......

If it goes out, then turn key to crank, and if the vehicle doesn't crank, the whole starter solenoid circuit has to be checked for power, starting at the starter solenoid......you will have to work your way backwards from there, checking for power when the key is in the crank position......could be P/N switch, starter enable relay, ignition switch, wiring , etc.

If there is power on the purple wire to the solenoid, bad starter...

[Hwylde69]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Scanned for codes? Check for corrosion at battery terminals and starter?

Since this is intermittant, you will have to start the car this way, to eliminate a possible problem.......turn key to on(don't turn to crank), look at SECURITY light, it should go out in 3-5 seconds......if it doesn't, you have a PassKey problem, and the car won't crank......

If it goes out, then turn key to crank, and if the vehicle doesn't crank, the whole starter solenoid circuit has to be checked for power, starting at the starter solenoid......you will have to work your way backwards from there, checking for power when the key is in the crank position......could be P/N switch, starter enable relay, ignition switch, wiring , etc.

If there is power on the purple wire to the solenoid, bad starter...

OK, I don't have the Passkey III issue because my SECURITY light goes off after a second or two, however I have a similar issue:
When we try to start our 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT Coupe, all of the lights on the dash light up, radio works, all of that, but when we turn it on over to crank it.....NOTHING. Not a sound, nothing. When it first began happening, we could take it out of PARK & then quickly put it back in PARK & it would start (that worked 2 or 3 times), then we would have to take it out of PARK & then put it quickly back in PARK while jiggling the steering wheel & it would start (this also worked only 2 or 3 times), then finally, when all of that stopped working, my husband actually stuck his foot out of the car door & rocked the car a little bit & it started (that only worked twice). Since then, nothing helps. It simply will not start. Period. Again, all of the dash lights etc, work fine & the radio works, headlights work, but it just doesn't start. We are VERY VERY poor, are living in our car part of the time & cannot afford a mechanic, so could someone PLEASE give me some idea of what's wrong? We are DESPERATE & in a panic because my husband is supposed to start a new job on Saturday, April 6, 2013 & we're afraid he won't be able to get to work. Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Thanks and have a blessed day!

[Tech II]

Should start your own thread....

Ok, the fact your SECURITY light goes out, and the vehicle doesn't crank, intermittently, could be the starter circuit, or the starter.....

Make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight.....make sure the connections at the starter and starter solenoid, are good and tight.....

What you need is a grounded test light......When the SECURITY light goes out and the car won't crank, probe the purple wire at the starter solenoid with the key in the crank position....if the test light is on, bad solenoid/starter....If the light is not on with the key in the crank position, then it's the starter circuit......good place to start, is the starter enable solenoid.....

In the underhood fuse block is the crank relay(starter enable relay).....When you turn the key to the crank position, you should "feel" that relay click....if it does, but the car does not crank, try swapping that relay with another one in the fuse block, with the same number on it......if it clicks and still doesn't start, the next place to check is the Park/Neutral position switch....apply ebrake, and see if the vehicle starts with the shifter in Neutral......if it does, then it's the P/N switch.....if it still doesn't start in Neutral, then bring that grounded test light to the P/N switch(located on top of the tranny, driver's side, towards rear.....or follow the shifter cable to it......there is a harness going into it.....back probe the yellow wire into it....with the key in the crank position, and the relay clicking, it should turn on.....

If it doesn't, there is an open between there and the relay...assuming the relay is ok, since it clicks and you swapped it with another one, there have been some problems with the connections in the underhood fuse block......give it a whack with the palm of your hand to see if the car starts....with the cover off, there are 3 bolts going across in the middle....they may be loose...try tightening them.....this tightens the electrical connections on the back of the block....

If the yellow wire lights, but the car does not crank, check to make sure the switch is adjusted ok.....apply ebrake....shift car into reverse(doesn't need to be started) and see if the reverse lights come on.....if they do, the adjustment should be ok....next jumper a wire from the yellow wire into the switch, to the purple wire(this goes to the solenoid) out of the switch......now turn key to crank, and the car should start(unless there is a break in the purple wire, or the connection at the solenoid is bad).....If it starts with the jumper, the P/N switch is bad....

Hope this helps....

[Hwylde69]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Should start your own thread....

Ok, the fact your SECURITY light goes out, and the vehicle doesn't crank, intermittently, could be the starter circuit, or the starter.....

Make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight.....make sure the connections at the starter and starter solenoid, are good and tight.....

What you need is a grounded test light......When the SECURITY light goes out and the car won't crank, probe the purple wire at the starter solenoid with the key in the crank position....if the test light is on, bad solenoid/starter....If the light is not on with the key in the crank position, then it's the starter circuit......good place to start, is the starter enable solenoid.....

In the underhood fuse block is the crank relay(starter enable relay).....When you turn the key to the crank position, you should "feel" that relay click....if it does, but the car does not crank, try swapping that relay with another one in the fuse block, with the same number on it......if it clicks and still doesn't start, the next place to check is the Park/Neutral position switch....apply ebrake, and see if the vehicle starts with the shifter in Neutral......if it does, then it's the P/N switch.....if it still doesn't start in Neutral, then bring that grounded test light to the P/N switch(located on top of the tranny, driver's side, towards rear.....or follow the shifter cable to it......there is a harness going into it.....back probe the yellow wire into it....with the key in the crank position, and the relay clicking, it should turn on.....

If it doesn't, there is an open between there and the relay...assuming the relay is ok, since it clicks and you swapped it with another one, there have been some problems with the connections in the underhood fuse block......give it a whack with the palm of your hand to see if the car starts....with the cover off, there are 3 bolts going across in the middle....they may be loose...try tightening them.....this tightens the electrical connections on the back of the block....

If the yellow wire lights, but the car does not crank, check to make sure the switch is adjusted ok.....apply ebrake....shift car into reverse(doesn't need to be started) and see if the reverse lights come on.....if they do, the adjustment should be ok....next jumper a wire from the yellow wire into the switch, to the purple wire(this goes to the solenoid) out of the switch......now turn key to crank, and the car should start(unless there is a break in the purple wire, or the connection at the solenoid is bad).....If it starts with the jumper, the P/N switch is bad....

Hope this helps....

Tech II,

Just received your reply. Am going to try to follow all of your instructions & will let you know how I fare. I just wanted to say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! I appreciate your taking the time out to reply & explain all of that to me, more than you can imagine as I have received 5 different quotes from mechanics (the day after I posted) with price tags ranging from $325 all the way to $580 & there is no way I could afford even the cheapest quote. So, I thank you again, so very much for your reply. God bless & have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,
Danielle Hogan

[Hwylde69]

Okay, UPDATE: My last post has been quite a while ago, but my mother-in-law passed away & my mother has been fighting bladder,colon, & lung cancers (she is now cancer free!!!! yeah!!!) so the past year has been crazy. I wound up having to put my Grand Prix that wouldn't start in storage so we could go home & care for our parents. So, here I am, all this time later & I still have the same problem. One change is that my husband finally got a few tools & removed the starter & took it to have it checked at the local automotive store & , after they put it on their little tester, they say that the starter is not only good, but GREAT. So, now that we know the starter is fine. I'm stuck. My hubby is not familiar with the newer cars (anything newer than a late 1980's or early 1990's is out of his realm of expertise lol) so I'm stumped as to what to do next.
As I mentioned last, when we put the key in the ignition, all of the dash lights come on, the windows go up & down, & the radio works, but when I turn the key to start it....nothing happens. So I guess my question is: Now that we know the starter is good, what do I do now? HELP!!!! (Thanks so much in advance to all who take time to answer this dumb woman's questions. I truly appreciate it more than you know. I am very poor...now living with the parents, taking care of them physically, so I really need to get my car running if at all possible) Thanks again & God Bless !!!