99 Intrigue Hard Starting

I have a 1999 Intrigue 3.5L that has trouble starting and the engine will shut off while driving. I noticed something interesting while starting it today. I left the car in the ON position for around 30 seconds, then I noticed the coolant temp and fuel level guages starting working. After which the car started normally. I've already changed the Fuel Pressure Regulator, I figured the Crankshaft Position Sensor is next to change but the temp and fuel guages not working has me thinking it could be something else now? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

~B

Sounds like a textbook ignition switch problem to me. I had very similar symptoms in my car.

I took mine out, cleaned the contacts and connections, reassembled and havent had a problem since. Thats something you can do thats free, so you might give it a shot.

Outright ignition switch replacement is also an option. But they are somewhat pricey.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=736656&highlight=ignition+switch+removal

Theres a link for the removal procedure.

Thank you for the quick reply and your detailed write up! I will definately give this a try! :)

~B

Ok I got the ignition switch out, WOW what a struggle to get the two big plugs out! Anyways all the connectors look pretty clean, almost brand new even. Am I gonna need to change the switch out for a new one? :( Gonna hose the connections down with some electrical contact cleaner and hope for the best for now..

~B

Its hard to say if you need a new one or not. Sometimes they fail internally, sometimes the contacts and such are just dirty. I havent had a single symptom since I cleaned mine about 2 months ago, and Ive put on probably 3000 miles or so since then.

Unless Im mistaken, ignition switch problems can be diagnosed with a GM Tech II scanner. But that will of course cost money.

Just something to try, when you turn the key to ON and the gauges and such dont work, what happens if you toggle to OFF and then back to ON, do they work? Do it again, how bout now?

I cant believe I forgot this, because its something I almost always suggest, but pull off your battery cables and make sure theyre clean, or at least do the positive one. You will want to remove the protective boots and clean the entire contact end. A wire brush works, but the least labor intensive method is to get some baking soda and mix in with water in a little cup or something and dip the ends in that. It will eat off most of the corrosion, and whats left will at least be soft.

The Standard fuel pressure regulator I got doesn't seem to be a perfect fit. I managed to get it in but its not flush! Here's a picture

http://xs119.xs.to/xs119/07392/IMG_5251.jpg

Would this gap cause problems? Internally it seemed a bit longer then the original one I took out. It isn't leaking but I still have trouble starting.

~B

The replacement one I got didnt exactly fit perfectly either, I think my problem was that one of the old o-rings didnt come out, because the replacement has 2, and the one I pulled out only had 1, so I just re-used the old one apparently, its been working fine.

I was really frustrated when mine didnt fix my problems either.

Try to start paying close attention to your start-up process, turn the key to the ON position and see if all the dash lights come on for a second, gauges bounce, that kind of thing, then crank it over. Mine was getting to where if you saw dash lights, then let it sit for a few seconds it would start right up. But if you saw no dash lights you could crank all day and it wouldnt start, but if I toggled the key back to OFF and repeated the process until the dash lights came on (sometimes took 4-5 times) then it would start.