Car will crank; won't always run-- sometimes quits while driving

[EricLeMaster]

The car will crank, but won't start every time, and sometimes when it does-- in the middle of driving-- it stops and the steering wheel and breaks lock up: the car looses power.

At first, the anti-theft light came on, so we thought it was the key switch. We replace the key switch cylinder and this didn't fix the problem, but the light does not come on anymore.

We then thought it might be the fuel pump relay. We replaced that AND the fuel filter, and that didn't work.

Also, a local dealer said there was low voltage making it to the fuel pump: 10 volts, not 12. They think it may be the key-switch ignition module now?


What could be the problem and what should we get and have repaired to fix it?

[clutch492]

If your key has a resistor in it, I am fairly sure what it is.

I had a Lumina that was doing the same thing. Finally, out of frustration, I kicked the Right Front tire. THE CAR DIED!
What I found was that the resistor in the key was not making good contact with the little terminal in the key tumbler. I found a web site that talked about how to bypass the resistor in the key. Basically, you need to measure the resistance of the little chip that is in the key. Then, down on the steering column, under the dash, cut the 2 very small wires that go to the tumbler. Install a resistor between the 2 wires (on the car side, not the column side). This will tell the computer that the key is present. Then you will also be able to use a regular key in the car.

I have seen many cars fixed this way.