Starting Issues

[KX2000GTP]

Hey guys, it's been a while but alas I am back with some issues...

I am so about to give up...

Here is the synopsys,

Yesterday morning the car would not start, lights come on, car primes, I turn the key...nothing. The lights on the A/C and radio go out like she's trying to start, but the starter never engages. I figure this, i've had problems starting before but after trying a few times she would always go, I will replace the starter. No go. I do as much diagnostics as possible (fues, relays, voltages...) and then decide to have the car towed to my buddy's shop.

As we are loading up on the tow truck, i decide to try and start again, no go (no surprise huh, just wait...) Then, as we are unloading at the shop, just for giggles i try it. FIRED RIGHT UP. I was soooooooo pissed and wanted to go home from embarasment, but I sucked up my pride and pulled into the parking spot to diagnose more. Good thing I did, I tried a few times to start the car and for about 15 times in a row she roared to life...then she stopped again.

Ok, so now I'm like WTFFFF! More diagnosis, more voltage testing...we noticed that we were getting 12V on the yellow ign wire to the park/neutral switch on the tranny, but no 12v comming out on the purple to the starter. Bad park/neutral switch right, we repace it and low and behold she starts again...about 15-20 times in a row, then nothing again. Same as before the car primes when I turned the key to on, but when I turn to start the lights on the A/C and radio go out like she's trying to start, but the starter never engages.

... more voltage testing more diagnosis ... when I turn to start, I'm not getting 12V to the yellow ign wire, at the switch. new ignition switch (electrical not the part the key goes into.

Install the new switch and Wallah! she starts again...for a period of time, then no start, same thing when I turn the key to start ... lights on the A/C and radio go out like she's trying to start, but the starter never engages.

The only think left to replace is the part the key goes into, and I'm going to do that tomorrow regardless.

The only other possiblity I have is if the Pass-Key is interfereing somehow, but if that was the case, wouldn't the car have NOT started after I replaced the ign switch? I'm so lost with this issue right now.

I searched but found nothing, tomorrow I will replace the key part and have the dealership by the house check it out.

ANY thoughts are welcome...

[BNaylor]

Whats up Jake?

What documentation are you using to troubleshoot this problem? Is the battery good to include alternator? Also, what about the cables from the battery especially to the starter and main fuse box?

With ignition to start what are you getting on the purple wire at the starter solenoid "S" input? The 12 volts to the starter solenoid comes from the crank relay in the main fuse box (engine) not directly from the transmission range switch aka neutral/park switch. The crank relay enable comes from the PCM module and before that BCM module if the Passkey III VATS passes.

[KX2000GTP]

Bob! Long time man, how you been?? How's the family?

I was using my head and the guys at my local shop...but that didn't work obviously. after I read your post i got out my chiltons and went to work.

FUNNY!! I found what the problem was...initially it was the ign switch. After the switch was replaced and she still wouldn't start it took a whole lot of luck to find the problem. One of the contacts from the transmission range switch (park/neutral) was loose from all the voltage testing i had been doing (the purple wire that runs to the S). I guess if you ram the rod into the hole to much it stretches it out huh?

so the solution was to clean the contact and make sure they were fitting tight...

at least most of the major components are new again...

[BNaylor]

Hey Jake. Everything is fine. How about on your end? What ever happened on your tranny issue?

It sounds like you have everything under control.

[KX2000GTP]

Tranny was rebuilt about 30K ago. Had a shift kit installed and had 'the fins welded' on the torque converter...not to sure what that's about but the guy said it would make it stronger...all the gears and clutches were replaced as well.

It took me a week but I think I finally got it, thanks Bob.