I have been tracking the threads to see if anyone have the same problem I have but nothing. Here it goes; My '98 GA does not start. It doesn't even turn over. Now, someone said it could by that the anti-theft system was ingaged. Well, I checked the system and nothing, I replaced the starter and nothing, I even replaced the ignition lock cylinder to check if the chip in it was defective but still nothing. If you own a '98 like I do, you know that if the car is not in Parking it will not start. I was thinking , is there a sensor or a relay of some sort in the shifter that could be faulty? Can anyone help me? I am in the military and I depend on this vehicle quite a lot. I am stumped!!! Help!!!

Did you replace or charge the battery. You say it will not turn over. Do you mean that the engine will not spin or it will spin and not start? If it is the parking switch then place it in neutral and it should start. If the engine turns over and does not start, there are a lot of items that could be the problem, lack of fuel due to a bad fuel pump, bad coil, ignition module, etc. If the vehicle turns over but does not start then check the fuel pressure and make sure you are getting fuel. If not fuel check the fuel pump relay it could be bad, it is under the hood in the power distribution box and is easy to change. If that does not get fuel to the car you may need to change the fuel pump. If you have fuel but no spark, check the ignition module under the coils. It may have gone bad and will not allow the car to fire. The crank position sensor may also be the culpret as the ignition will not fire if it has lost reference. There are so many things to check that it is impossible to list them here. Let me know what engine size you have and the folks on the board will help you as best we can. Hope this helps!

I agree with GTP Dad. If it ain't turning over when you try to start it (assuming the battery isn't dead) my first suspect would be the Neutral safety switch. Try like GTP said and see if it will turn over in Neutral. The factory anti-theft system is not tied to the starter in shape or form.

I agree with GTP Dad. If it ain't turning over when you try to start it (assuming the battery isn't dead) my first suspect would be the Neutral safety switch. Try like GTP said and see if it will turn over in Neutral. The factory anti-theft system is not tied to the starter in shape or form.


I tried th start it in neutral and nothing. I will buy the neutral safety switch today and try it. I didn't think about that. Thanks so much for the help and I will keep you guys posted.

It could be the Neutral/Safety switch but do this as well.

Get a Remote Starter Switch at your local autoparts. It has clamps on both ends of the wire and then a push button in middle of the wire.

You clip one clamp on the battery positive terminal and the other one connected to the starter. Push the button and see if the engine turns over. If the engine turns over, the problem is in the wires, etc., or the starter solenoid itself.

The starter solenoid is separate from the starter. However, the starter solenoid sits on top of the starter. Older vehicles have the starter solenoid away from the starter and usually located on side metal frame of the engine bay.

If the piston chamber has water in them, it will be hard for the engine to turn it over. Push the gas pedal all the way down (Ignition OFF) and put some heavy stuff to keep the gas pedal down for 30 minutes or longer to allow any water or fluid to evaporate.

If the engine still does not turn over, the motor might have seized or some fluid and will not evaporate as it is in compression position. The only way to let those fluids escape is to remove the spark plugs. Try the remote starter switch again.

Is the neutral safety switch in the column? I pulled the middle console and there is a sensor right under the gear shift but the problem is that is encased in a little box welded to the floor board in the middle. Also Slade, the remote starter is that the technical name for it? Or can I just walk in AUTOZONE and ask for a remote starter? Thanks for your help guys I really appreciated.

Yep, that's the name. Remote starter switch is the right name. Autozone carries them and most autoparts store. Here's a sample of it http://www.autobarn.net/equ3630.html

Is the neutral safety switch in the column? I pulled the middle console and there is a sensor right under the gear shift but the problem is that is encased in a little box welded to the floor board in the middle. Also Slade, the remote starter is that the technical name for it? Or can I just walk in AUTOZONE and ask for a remote starter? Thanks for your help guys I really appreciated.


Eureka!!! finally, it was the ignition switch. Now the little glitch I am having is that the car try to start but it does not stay running. I read about this before in here but I can't find the thread. C'mon guys you have been great let's get this puppy on the road. Once again Thanks SLADE.

Did you replace the ignition switch?

When you said "Now the little glitch I am having is that the car try to start but it does not stay running.", are you trying to start it with the igntion switch the one inside the vehicle and not the remote starter switch?

Did you replace the ignition switch?

When you said "Now the little glitch I am having is that the car try to start but it does not stay running.", are you trying to start it with the igntion switch the one inside the vehicle and not the remote starter switch?

Okay I started the car and it stays running now. Finally. It was the anti-theft system. I exchange the ignition lock cylinders without disconecting the battery so it tripped the anti-theft system. But the problem I am having now after all this headache is the alarm system. The car starts and I drive it and all but the alarm system stays engage the whole time, even when I am driving the car. Is that weird or what? Is there a way to by-pass the whole theft system all together?

Okay I started the car and it stays running now. Finally. It was the anti-theft system. I exchange the ignition lock cylinders without disconecting the battery so it tripped the anti-theft system. But the problem I am having now after all this headache is the alarm system. The car starts and I drive it and all but the alarm system stays engage the whole time, even when I am driving the car. Is that weird or what? Is there a way to by-pass the whole theft system all together?
Did you change the keys? It needs to have the right ohm reading going to the BCM. If it is disconnected or it thinks the system is screwed up, it will go into fault mode where it stays lit as you drive.