96 grand am hard to start

[wjones1000]

my son bought this car about a year ago and it has done this even after motor has been replaced.i have tried the relearn process but it didnt fix the problem.here is what it does when you hit the key it immediately starts but then dies,but if you continue to hold key in start position even when it starts and dies the starter speeds up for about 2 or 3 seconds then goes back to normal,well if you still never let off the key in approx 10 to 20 seconds of cranking it will start up and purr like a kitten.i do notice theft light stays on all the time on dash never blinks or shuts off,what gets me is once motor starts it runs great until you kill it and try to start it again,please help thanks

[3100]

disable pass lock connector when you star the engine do this while the engine is running. then shut off engine and within 30 sec turn on and off engine again do this 3 times and it should be ok.


to disable the connector you will have to remove the plastic covers around the steering column and then you will notice small connector by the ignition key cylinder it has black and yellow wire disconnect that when the engine is running and leave it disconnected. New cylinder is expensive about 250 dollars.

[wjones1000]

the wire i found on ignition has black,white and yellow is that the one?

[3100]

so it connects to the ignition key cylinder if yes then disconnect that one while engine is running. Do the steps that I mentioned in the previous post. Light will be on constantly but you will be able to start it every time. Please post back the results. I believe that the white wire is unused even though it has 3 pins white is unused. Yellow and black wires connect to the internal resistor which gives the certain ohm resistance to ipc when key is turned on. To turn off the light you can do the same thing while engine is running plug in resistor with one of these 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 ohms into the pins for black and yellow wire, (check radio shack) so do this while the engine is running turn off the engine start it again 3 times in 30 sec. This way you will relearn it to your new resistor value.

[wjones1000]

ok i will try this again and let you know how it goes thanks very much for the information!

[wjones1000]

i tried the pass loc procedure and that didnt change anything still the same way it was

[3100]

it is important to do it right you have to disconnect it while engine is running, and leave it disconnected. If you did this and it is still doing the same thing then the the problem could be something else maybe ignition switch is melting internally. There was a big recall for ignition switches for this cars. Open the hood and see if you have a relay installed where the locking mechanism is for the hood (right above the radiator) If you can not find the relay then recall was never completed on this vehicle and ignition switch was not protected.

[wjones1000]

i promise i did it correctly and it did not fix,i will check for the relay by hood latch if its not there then does that mean we have to buy new ignition,or get one from salvage?thanks for your input.

[3100]

ignition switch is plastic black box it is only a switch and you can see it on the left side of the steering column. I would first check for signs of melting. XI should have continuity test procedure for the switch, I remember he had one for 1999 and newer models, maybe he has one for your model. Junk yards usually give them for free if not then 5$ the most.

[wjones1000]

ok i will check switch for melting and continuity,thanks again !

[3100]

do you have dvom (digital volt, ohm meter?) and do you know how to use it completely?

if you do and you know, then cut the yellow wire in half, and just strip the black wire somewhere in the middle do not cut it, turn the ignition key to on position and measure the resistance between yellow wire (key side) and the black wire. There should be resistance if you see open then that is the problem if you see some resistance write it down correctly go to radio shack and get the resistor of that value, then cut black wire and connect resistor to black and yellow wires (the other side not key side) this is the correct way to bypass pass lock

[inkslinger00743]

sounds like a fuel pump issue to me. The fuel pumps gm used dont just quit all of a sudden like most others. I would leave a fuel pressure gauge hooked up for a while. also try the pressure regulator. If you can hear the starter speeding up then your getting spark and not enough fuel.

[wjones1000]

yes i have digital meter t5-600 so i will check thanks !

[wjones1000]

ok the wires i was talking about came directly from key switch on right side of steering column so i will check to see if i can find square box on left side of steering column with yellow and black wires thanks you really seem very sharp!

[wjones1000]

if i am on correct wires there is no continuity between wires.the wires i am testing come off where you stick the key in they are like a ribbon cable 2black1 white they go down and plug into a plug that has the yellow black and white wires these are the only yellow black and white wires that i find that are by themselves but like i said they are on the right side of column right behind where you stick key in.