94 Grand Am - ignition switch problem? wont turn over! help!

[chetwynd]

I have a question regarding my 1994 Pontiac Grand Am. A few days ago I noticed that when I turned the key to start it, the starter didn't engage, almost like it wasn't getting any juice...which would lead me to believe it was either something wrong with the neutral safety switch or something in the key cylinder or whatever. I jiggled it a little and turned the key back and forth and after a few seconds of that, it turned over and started fine. Now it doesn't start at all...starter doesn't engage, etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

As a side question, a few years ago I had major overheating problems with this car. No one seemed to be able to fix it (apparently a ton of gunk in the cooling system clogging everything up) so I had them remove the thermostat. Now it runs at about 110 degrees, never warms up, runs like hell, fouls plugs, etc. It's fine, I drive it daily, but I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to tell the computer that it needs to change it's ways?

[chetwynd]

Come on guys, doesn't anyone have any ideas?

[gmack221]

I assume you checked the battery to make sure its not a low battery?

what motor do you have in your 94 4 cyl or 6 cyl

Have you tried your spare key?
is your car equiped with a security system?
is that security light turning on?

if your batter is charged, you tried your spare key, you've tried taking it out of park and putting it back in, then I can only think of 3 things that could be

1. neutral safety switch
2. starter (pull out and have tested at auto parts store)
3. ignition

check all of your fuses
make sure everything else in the car works (radio, dash light, ect)
last thing I can think of checking would be the fuseable links (they feed power from the starter to the rest of car) (this is not likely, but anything is possible)

sounds like a neutral safety switch to me though (just a guess) (doesn't make sense why it cranked the first time and didn't start though, that tells me your igniton & starter were working)

[chetwynd]

Turns out it was the ignition switched. $75 and an hour later it fired up like the champ it is. Thanks!