Serious Electrical Problem 95gtp

Help! With the doors open, the courtosy lights work fine. WIth the key on accessory the clock will turn on. Now the twist. First, the headlights will NOT turn on at anytime, key in any position. 4-ways work. When key is turned to the "on" position all power shorts. courtesy lights, everything. i cant even get it to the start position before all power is lost. with the key out, the brake lights work perfect, all interior lamps are fine if key is not in.

This may have started a week or two ago, when id go to start the car, all the lamps would dim as if power was being drawn, but nothing happened. ANd then id have to kinda switch it from "off" to start a couple times and then it would crank and run fine.

But last night, i was driving, flashed my lights at a friend driving in the opposite lane, and all electrical was lost. Kinda scary when this happens when ur driving! hasnt started since. AAA towed it home. What should i do?? its a 1995 GTP (with all options, if it makes a difference)

Sounds like an ignition switch that's gone bad. Not a cheap fix, but with the correct tools and a manual for "do-it-yourself", alot of $'s could be saved. ...75Trump

if you have a steering wheel puller it's pretty easy, if you know what you are doing

I've not done the switch on my son's GP but typically GM switches are mounted on the lower steering column and don't require pulling the steering wheel. If you're pulling teh steering wheel to get to the key cylinder there is also a special tool for removing the steering locking plate that makes the job much easier. My Haynes manual has a good descrition of repairing the key switch.

BTW, do you have the cover on the fusebox in the right front of your engine compartment? If so, can you tell me what each fuse does, mine missing, Thanks!

wow, turns out there was a bad connection at the secondary battery terminal (at the fusebox). At least thats fixed (for now).


stewart - That fuse box does have a cover, and there are 4 relays, and three fuses. One relay and one 60amp fuse is for the ABS, i'll have to check what the others are. But there are like 6 spots for fuses and i only have three.

My son's car had the same thing but I assumed it was the power amp that was hooked up there. I ended up getting a good used part from a scrapyard and rewired his amp. When this round of troubles started I assumed it was that same problem but no....

Thanks for the info on the fusebox. His 94 has 2 big relays, I think for the fans, 2 small relays, one I know is the fuel pump, the other is unknown and a batch of fuses. Any info is appreciated, I hate having to figure it out as I go.