Ignition Problems... I think???

I have a 1986 Caprice Classic, 305, 4bbl...it has a new alternator & battery. The locking mechanism in my tilt steering column has broken so my steering wheel floats a little. (Hope that info helps a bit). Now to the problem...there are times that my car would start up fine and run great, however, other times I would turn the key and it was like there wasn't even a battery in the car (no lights, horn, blinkers) absolutely nothing. Now it won't start at all and isn't getting power to anything. I've been told the floating of my steering wheel I could have damaged the ignition. Any ideas on what I should check for?

Thanks.....

The tidbit about the steering column probably contributes to the problem. If the lights operate correctly, or components not relating to the column operate correctly, it is likely a column related issue. If the vehicle is truly dead, in other words, it is really tha tfact that NOTHING works, you are likely looking at a connection, either on the battery, or the fusible links on the starter. These links connect to the battery on the starter itself. Do not forget the grounds. They are just as important as the positive connections. The battery grounds connect the body, frame and engine to the battery negative side of the battery. Food for thought... Ray

Thanks for the info.... actually read something about fuseable links somewhere, but wasn't sure where to look under the hood.... the car being dead just started maybe 4 days ago... however, a few turns of the key and eventually I got power back... now it's just dead, no power to anything. I have a new keyed ignition and the switch, gonna replace those anyway and also check for fuseable links when the outside temp gets above freezing here in Maine. Will post outcome!!!

:newbie:

It could be your shifter selector switch. It is located under the dash, on top of the steering shaft. If the wires are burned or the case is broken (plastic) it may think that the gear shift lever in is drive and nothing will work. And also the key pushes a rod, that is locate along the steering shaft to a switch that located up under the dash. Have someone turn your key to "start" and put a volt meter to the start solenoid and see you are getting voltage. When you turn the key to start the engine you must pass through the "ON" position. The "ON" position powers everthing on the car then one click further, pushes a switch that engages the starter solenoid that closes another relay that puts power directly from the battery to the starter. If either one of the two switches (Shift position switch, or the Starter switch) have gone bad or failing, you will have irratic starts. :2cents:

Countilaw :smokin:

Changed the ignition and the old girl fired up! Thanks for all the help!!! It may be old but I love this car!!!

:smile: Thanks again!!!!

It could be your shifter selector switch. It is located under the dash, on top of the steering shaft. If the wires are burned or the case is broken (plastic) it may think that the gear shift lever in is drive and nothing will work. And also the key pushes a rod, that is locate along the steering shaft to a switch that located up under the dash. Have someone turn your key to "start" and put a volt meter to the start solenoid and see you are getting voltage. When you turn the key to start the engine you must pass through the "ON" position. The "ON" position powers everthing on the car then one click further, pushes a switch that engages the starter solenoid that closes another relay that puts power directly from the battery to the starter. If either one of the two switches (Shift position switch, or the Starter switch) have gone bad or failing, you will have irratic starts. :2cents:

Countilaw :smokin:


omg, thanks for this info. I have almost the same problem, and I continually thought it was a wiring problem (well it sort of is), because mine would do the same thing, but instead of everything being dead, I would still have power. I have the whole column tore apart working on it now, and I'll take a look-see at the selector switch. It sort of makes sense, because the gear selector on my dash is totally inoperable...I have to remember which gear I'm in...lol

again, thanks

Well, I decided to swap out the column, going to the yard tomorrow and pickin one up for $50. Something interesting though, there was 2 wires cut at the base of the gear selector switch...not sure what that's all about.

If the lock for your tilt were busted, it wouldn't just jump up and down a little - you'd be chasing it up and down and back and forth - they do work loose and I described how to take a tilt collumn down to tighten the four little screws - http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1836128#post1836128
There is an actuator rod from the ignition tumbler to the ignition switch down on the collumn - I take it when you changed the switch you got it centered correctly. The easy way to check the switch is to see, with a test light, if juice is coming in and going out. Usually they will heat up and the slide sinks into the plastic and doesn't make contact enough to get the juice through.
Believe it or not, you do not have a safety neutral switch - it is built into the collumn. If the shifter isn't in park or neutral the collar itself prevents you from turning the key switch far enough to actuate the ingnition switch down on the collumn.
Fuseable links come off the starter solenoid and feeds power to all the systems of the car except when there is a pigtail directly off the battery end of the positive cable.

Well, I decided to swap out the column, going to the yard tomorrow and pickin one up for $50. Something interesting though, there was 2 wires cut at the base of the gear selector switch...not sure what that's all about.

Gear selector . . . switch? I know of the indicator that has two, small wires that come from a slide in the indicator and attached to it is a clip that slides up onto the bottom of the collar that goes into the bottom of the gear shift collar - you can move the clip to be able to have the correct gear show on the dash . . . Is that it?