95 GTP with intermittent starting problem

[1gr869]

I have a 95 GTP with 3400 motor that will at times fire right off. The next time I get in (usually in a parking lot somewhere) I turn the key and nothing happens. No click..nothing. I had it towed to a dealer and they wanted $450 to replace the starter (their diagnosis). I replaced it with a new one myself to save on labor. I also replaced the battery, battery cables, and alternator. Still have the problem.

The fuel pump runs when I turn the key. The security light does not remain on. All dash indicator lights turn off normally, with the exception of the battery and service engine soon light. I also noticed that everytime this happens, it resets my clock on the radio to 1:00 and all station presets are history. I may leave it sit for 30 minutes and it might start. Then it may be like one instance where it sat in the garage for a week and wouldn't do anything. I've been told it could be the theft deterrent relay but the security light does not flash and the fuel pump runs so I'm ruling that out. I am also told it could be the key lock cylinder, ignition switch, or the safety neutral switch on the tranny.

I also notice that sometimes the starter will turn over normally and other times it cranks like there isn't enough juice in the battery, but the battery is fine. I turn on the headlights and they are normal. When I turn the key, they do not dim. What the heck is going on with this thing?

It acted up yesterday but finally it started and I drove it home. Since then, I have reached in at various times, turned the key and it's fired right off (darn thing).

I bought the car for $1000 because the previous owner didn't want to spend any money to fix it. It's only got 80k miles on it and it's a black beauty with leather and all of the toys. A shame to just give up on it but I'm having to resort to driving my 93 grocery getter (Astro) with 150k miles because it's so darn reliable.

Has anyone else had this problem?

HELP!

[acidcrashdburnd]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i had it with my friends car did all the same stuff IT WAS THE WIRE HARNESS!!! erm caps lol the wire harness to the ecm pcm THE COMPUTER to the car im was at a lose right now lol the car was a 93 3.1 turbo grand pricks

[acidcrashdburnd]

and if it is that its gona be hard to find a replacement ....

[richtazz]

since the ECM is mounted under the hood, it is exposed to the elements and corrosion is common. I agree with the previous poster, that it's a good chance the ECM, or ECM harness is your issue.

[1gr869]

I drove it this past weekend and noticed this time that the clock on the radio did not reset itself. Of course it wouldn't start when I got to my destination but I wiggled the wires around the ECM and opened the fuse box above the ECM and wiggled fuses too. It fired right off. So I'm thinking it could be the ECM or a connection to the fuse box. Going to check that out this week if I can get my 69 GTO finished and on the road.

[acidcrashdburnd]

GTO!!!!!!! GTO!!!!!!!!! nice what have you done to it? stock???

[Madmunky]

hmmm sounds similar to an issue I had, at any point does the car ever sound like its going to stall? I had weird issues like that happening to me where everything electrical would shut off completely, but not long enough for the engine to completely die. It turned out to be the aux positive post beside the battery, it was just corroded too much. Maybe check that and clean it up with some steel wool or something, thats all my mechanic did. (now I know how to do it myself)

Jamie

[1gr869]

The car never stalls or acts like it wants to. It runs perfectly...if it will start. The cables have all been replaced as well as that positive post. I just took it to a friend's shop and they had it for a month. It would start every single time, so I brought it home. Two days later, it wouldn't start again. Same issue. Took it back to the shop and they found a bad wire on the lock cylinder so we replaced that and have a new key. Brought it home Monday, drove it all over town on Tuesday, and Wednesday morning it wouldn't start. Tried this morning (Thursday) and it fired right up (@#$!), so I drove it back to the shop. The security light does not flash, all dash lights are operating normally. Thinking we might replace the ignition switch now or maybe I have a bad alternator or solenoid?

I'm still

Oh, and to answer the question related to my GTO. It's mostly stock but has a little nicer cam in it so it lopes a bit more and I put torque thrust rims on it. It's a numbers matching California car. I just finished a total frame off resto on it, motor and all. It's been awesome driving it this summer. I have it on cardomain.com but need to update with more recent photos now that it's completely done.

[1gr869]

Just FYI

I figured out the problem. Turns out the neutral safety switch on the tranny was barely bolted on and malfunctioning. It starts every time now, however now I have other issues.

[tblake]

what other issues? Are they related to the safety switch?