1991 PA Help

My 91 PA wont start. Key turns, lights come on, but starter does nothing. My mach. looked at it and says it is the ingation switch. That I'll have to take my vin number to a BUICK dealer to get the correct key and a new ing. switch, so the computer will see it. I called a buick dealer, to see if my mach. was correct, and talked to the service dept and was told it might be the lock clynder. When it is replaced to try leaving the key on for about 20 mins then turn it off that back on for another 20 mins. To do this for about 3 or 4 times and the computer might see the new key then. Could someone give me some insight on this problem.

before you do all this hassle, crawl under the car with a ball-ping hammer, and gently, GENTLY tap the starter, do use enough force to tap it effectivly, but dont dent it. Crawl out and try to start it, still no start may indicate a faulty starter or faulty ignition switch, if it does start, I'd reccommend a new starter.

when i first got my '93 PA i had a problem like yours. i found out the key needs to washed in warm soapy water once in awhile. if it gets a little dirty the security system can not read the computer chip. it may not look dirty but give it a try. do not use any chemical cleaners or scrub it hard, just gently clean the key. hope this helps." i used dish soap"

before you do all this hassle, crawl under the car with a ball-ping hammer, and gently, GENTLY tap the starter, do use enough force to tap it effectivly, but dont dent it. Crawl out and try to start it, still no start may indicate a faulty starter or faulty ignition switch, if it does start, I'd reccommend a new starter.


Thank you for your reply. What I have done is bypass the solinod and it starts, but doesn't run long. If my memory is still well my ing. switch may be bad. My problem is do I have a switch and a lock clyinder or onr unit with both combined ? The mach that looked at the car left me with the impression that i have two units, an ing sw and a lock cly. If this is correct which one do I replace and where is the ing sw ? Again I thank you for your reply

i think your lock cylinder activates your ign. switch via an actuator rod. the switch would be down the steering column a ways. if the lock or rod is damaged, the lock would feel loose. you also have a neutral safety switch in the mix which can cause a no crank situation if it is bad or out of adjustment.

The key reader is in the ign lock cylinder and the two very thin wires have a habit of cracking from the constant rotation back and forth.