Turn Key No Start

[chvckw]

When I turn the key in the ignition of my 97 GP GT (170,000 miles) sometimes nothing happens and it is getting more frequent. All the dash lights stay on and there is no starter click or starter spinning which makes me think it is the ignition. I have pulled the shifter out of park and put it back in park and still nothing. After a minute of turning the key back and forth it finally fires right up, sometimes i can hold the key in the start position for an extended period and it will go. Any help would be much appriciated.

[tblake]

Sounds like a bad spot on the starter. Two things you can try.

-When the car doesn't start in park, attempt to start it in neutral. If it starts, you have a failing neutral safety switch (PRNDL switch)

-when the car doesn't start, have a buddy hold the key in the "start" position and you measure the voltage at the starter "S" terminal. With a voltmeter or test light, put the ground lead on chassis groung, and the positive lead on the small terminal with the purple wire connected to it. If you get 12V when when the ignition is in "start", you have a bad starter.

[chvckw]

I will give both of those a shot and see what happens, thanks. I sure miss the simplicity of the 70's and older cars.