Pontiac Grand AM 1998: Won't start after turn-off

[xiaoster]

Hi, I just bought a used Pontiac Grand AM SE V6 a little over a week ago and i'm having a lot of fun with it.

There's a problem that bothers me. When I drive for a while (say for more than 10 minutes) and turn the engine off on park, I'm unable to start it again immediately. It won't crank and no sound is produced. Nothing happens except the lights go off when the key is in the ignition position (which is normal). However, I'm able to start it up again after a few minutes (say 5 minutes or so) or waiting.

It doesn't really bother me when I go shopping or have to leave the car for an extended period of time. But it's really a pain in the neck at the gas stations.

Does anyone have any clue about this? All comments welcome!

Thanks!

[skibum1111]

Sounds like your starter is giving up its grip on life.

[xiaoster]

Originally Posted by skibum1111

Sounds like your starter is giving up its grip on life.

Thanks for the reply.
I thought about that, too. But what puzzles me is that it cranks just fine on fresh starts.

I remember the first time it happened, I was able to start it up on NEUTRAL instead of P. But that tweak no longer works

[skibum1111]

Check your neutral safety switch, its located by the shifter (I think), that could also be bad, but it wouldn't explain the cold start and warm nostart.

[ice91785]

Does your car run warm at all? I had an '88 Sunbird that had a similiar problem, it turned out there was a modular that went to my distributer that had gotten exposed to excessive heat...(they are heat sensitive). I'm sorry but I don't member exactly what modular but it's an idea. Run a diagnostic on it and see what codes ya get

[xeroinfinity]

if it isnt the NSS, it could be the selinoid on the starter gets hot, from exhuast or radiant heat, and it sticks till it cools down.

[xiaoster]

Originally Posted by ice91785

Does your car run warm at all? I had an '88 Sunbird that had a similiar problem, it turned out there was a modular that went to my distributer that had gotten exposed to excessive heat...(they are heat sensitive). I'm sorry but I don't member exactly what modular but it's an idea. Run a diagnostic on it and see what codes ya get

After getting to know it better, I'm convinced that the problem occurs only when the engine is HOT. Also, when engine is cooling down, there's a point in time just before i'm able to crank it that when I ignite, it cranks very bizzarly. I'm guessing, from a rookie's perception, that it's the point where the engine is cool just enough to allow cranking but as soon as it begins to, the temperature flux prevents it from carrying further.

I think i'll take it for a diagnostics but in the mean time, I'd like to know about how much it is going to cost me to get this rather minor problem fixed up? Is it possible to do it myself?

Thanks

[xiaoster]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

if it isnt the NSS, it could be the selinoid on the starter gets hot, from exhuast or radiant heat, and it sticks till it cools down.

Would that not simply result in sluggish start-ups instead of the click-no-crank situation? (again, from a rookie's point of view)

[xeroinfinity]

if the selinoid is bad, due to heat and worn out, it wont ingage to turn the started at all, or sometimes the selinoid sticks engaged, but thats a whole different issue.

But sluggish starts can be caused by a weak battery and or charging system. Loose wires can also cause intermittent/slugish startings.