1997 SL2 - Won't Start Sometimes, Security Lock Out?

[unhappycougarowner]

Found out that a little old lady was being moved into assisted living that I know & her family was looking to get rid of the car quickly. It's in nearly pristene condition, having only been used to do grocery shopping and church on Sundays primarily. One of those great stories that you always want to come across.

So being regularly maintained and all, for only $2000 at 37k, auto w/leather, I couldn't pass up on it.

It had been sitting for two to three weeks in her garage, but didn't have much trouble getting it started. Outside of a squeaking belt & a horn that doesn't work, the car runs great.

She let me take it for a week & on three or four separate occassions, the car just won't start when the key is turned. No cranking, no clicking, nothing. The daytime running lights come on, as do the rest, so I thought charging the battery might be what it needed. Car ran fine for a day or two, but then again it wouldn't start.

Plenty of fuel in the tank, as I live in WI and we've been getting hit with some very cold temperatures.

I'm thinking that it's stemming from a security lockout from the keyless entry remote. After looking the manual over and seeing what would trigger that though, I haven't been doing anything that would.

Am I offbase with my train of thought, or does anyone have some advice that they could dispense?

[RC1488]

Originally Posted by unhappycougarowner

Found out that a little old lady was being moved into assisted living that I know & her family was looking to get rid of the car quickly. It's in nearly pristene condition, having only been used to do grocery shopping and church on Sundays primarily. One of those great stories that you always want to come across.

So being regularly maintained and all, for only $2000 at 37k, auto w/leather, I couldn't pass up on it.

It had been sitting for two to three weeks in her garage, but didn't have much trouble getting it started. Outside of a squeaking belt & a horn that doesn't work, the car runs great.

She let me take it for a week & on three or four separate occassions, the car just won't start when the key is turned. No cranking, no clicking, nothing. The daytime running lights come on, as do the rest, so I thought charging the battery might be what it needed. Car ran fine for a day or two, but then again it wouldn't start.

Plenty of fuel in the tank, as I live in WI and we've been getting hit with some very cold temperatures.

I'm thinking that it's stemming from a security lockout from the keyless entry remote. After looking the manual over and seeing what would trigger that though, I haven't been doing anything that would.

Am I offbase with my train of thought, or does anyone have some advice that they could dispense?

check your battery connections. make sure they are corosion free. your lights can come on if, howevre there may not be enough contact for starting amps.

another possible problem would be your parking switch. if after checking the battery and the problem still persists, try pulling the level out of park and then back in.

Change that Engine Coolant Temperture Sensor also! its prolly resin and it may cause problems in the future. you want a brass tipped, as the resin can be eatin through by the coolant and send false data to the PCM.

Keep up on the Oil changes (every 3k) and tranny changes (every 30k) and that car will make it wayy beyong 200k miles. goodluck