97 Grand am wont start

[DKOnLine]

Ok Im having a similar problem that he had on my 97 Grand Am 3.1. Car won't start sometimes. No click, nothin. I tapped on the starter while trying to start the car and it tried to 2 times. I got it to start eventually. Does this sound like a starter issue? I have replaced the battery connections, battery bolts, ignition switch, key and tumbler. So i have been tryin to fix this awhile. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[xeroinfinity]

Well sounds like you replaced everything else..
Most part stores can test your starter to see if it is the problem.

Good Luck

[DKOnLine]

I have had it tested before and it came back fine. Im just going to replace it and see what happens. Its very annoying getting stranded. Let you know the outcome. Thanks

[DKOnLine]

I know its been a while since I posted on this subject, but I had the problem resolved. The problem was the Starter Relay that is mounted right up front by the relay. I broke down and took it to a shop and they traced it to that. Since its been replaced (about 1 1/2 months now) the car has started everytime.

[DKOnLine]

Im back again with the same issue and this time its not the relay. I have noticed that my car will do the same symptoms if Im parked downhill, or parked on any type of incline. Is this caused by the neutral safety switch?

[xeroinfinity]

Your post(s) have been moved to its own thread(since you highjacked it lol).
Plus your '97 is a little different the the prevous users 2005 issues.

Might be your park neutral saftey switch, it can be checked.
ALso make sure it's pluged in all the way and the wires are not damaged. It sets right on top of the trans., drivers side, and it has the shifter cable connected to it.

But it doesnt do this when you park on flat ground ??

[J-Ri]

Did you end up replacing the starter then? It sure sounds like a starter/solenoid/wire on solenoid issue. If taping the starter with a hammer makes it start, it has to be something attached to the starter that is causing it. A VERY important step in replacing the starter is to clean the block and both bolts (the starter grounds through the block), but most people don't do this because it's a PITA without a special (but only $12) attachment for a drill/diegrinder. Also, clean the contacts on all the wires that go to the solenoid and make sure the nuts are tight. Also clean the ground wire that goes from the battery to the engine block. I usually spray some battery terminal protector spray on them to keep them clean. I live in Iowa, and with all the salt they put on the roads for ice, I ran a cable from one starter bolt to the battery ground on the block on my truck because it just keeps rusting and causing slow cranking.

[DKOnLine]

I just had the Neutral Safety Switch replaced by a shop and its still doing it. I have cleaned everything that I can possibly think off.

Replaced So Far:
Ignition Switch
Lock and Cylinder
Starter
Starter Solenoid
Starter Relay
Battery Bolts



Im stumped!!!

[J-Ri]

Well, the good news is you have likely narrowed it down to a bad wire or connection, as everything else has been replaced. Did you clean the block and grounds as I suggested?

[DKOnLine]

Do you happen to know exactly where that ground connection is?

[J-Ri]

The starter ground is the block where the starter touches. There is a long (~8") "roll-lock" adapter, about $12, so you can use a die grinder or drill to clean it up. You can also use 100-grit sandpaper, but that method always makes my hands cramp up before the job is done. On my personal vehicles, I like to run an additional cable from one of the starter bolts (just whichever is easiest to access) to the engine ground. I'd use whatever size the battery cables are. To find the engine ground, just follow the negative battery cable to where it ends. Even if it looks good, take the bolt out and clean all the wires that go to it and the block around the bolt and reconnect them all. If they aren't already, install the largest "O" terminal against the block with the smaller ones on the outside of it, that will provide the most contact for the highest current wires. I would run a thread chaser down the hole and blow it out with compressed air. Once that's done, spray some battery terminal protector over it to keep water out.

[DKOnLine]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The good ole GM Dealership that handled the recall on this thing didn't properly install the starter relay. They use butt end connector to wire it in to the system. So over the course of the couple years its been slowly erroding away and one side of it the wires weren't even crimped down well. The shop found it today after we got it to act up. (It was a very warm day today and thats when it really acted up) They quickly started testing anything electrical and they found no power was going to the starter. So they worked their way back and found power at and from the Neutral Safety Switch but none at the starter. So they then follwed the wires back from the relay and found the butt end connector. They started messing with it and the car started! The cut it out and we found the problem in the connector like I stated above. Not crimped well and erroding. My car now starts each and everytime!!!!!