99 won't start HELP

[spidyrmen]

99 alero. Yesterday the car wouldn't start. When you turn the key to the on position, the headlights flash, gauges seem to bounce around and the seat belt and service engine light flicker. I can hear the fuel pump load up. When you turn the key to start it, everything goes dead. You hear the click of the starter, but all power is cut off. Is this a passlock problem or some sort of short in the bcm? The security light was flashing for a little while, but now its not. Thanks in advance for any help.

[BNaylor]

Welcome to AF.

What engine do you have?

What condition is the battery in. You can get it tested. Also, check the battery negative and positive terminals and the cables.

If the issue was Passlock you would not get any juice to the starter so no solenoid click.

[spidyrmen]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Welcome to AF.

What engine do you have?

What condition is the battery in. You can get it tested. Also, check the battery negative and positive terminals and the cables.

If the issue was Passlock you would not get any juice to the starter so no solenoid click.

The engine is a 3400 and the battery is at 12.47 volts. I tried jumping across the starter. Minor sparks. There is no clicking at the solenoid

[MrMeCaNiC]

check your main battery grounds. I have worked on several vehicles that a bad primary ground caused 'caniptions' like that, when large power [AKA: starter] was applied through a bad ground.

[spidyrmen]

Originally Posted by MrMeCaNiC

check your main battery grounds. I have worked on several vehicles that a bad primary ground caused 'caniptions' like that, when large power [AKA: starter] was applied through a bad ground.

No its not the negative cable. What it does now is when you to the key to start it nothing happens , but when I shut the key off the gas, tach, speedometer and temp gauges all jump as high as they can go for 3 seconds and then go back to normal

[spidyrmen]

Originally Posted by MrMeCaNiC

check your main battery grounds. I have worked on several vehicles that a bad primary ground caused 'caniptions' like that, when large power [AKA: starter] was applied through a bad ground.

Now with the key turned to acc. the security and battery light come on

[MrMeCaNiC]

actually spidyrmen, it sounds to me like the ignition switch may have slipped on its set bolts... do the gauges normally cycle like that when you turn the key? the IGN is mechanically linked to the key tumbler, so if it slips its position, the key part isnt actually pushing all the way to the 'start' mode, and the fact that the batt light comes on in the ACC position, sudggests that as well.
perhaps try unbolting the ignition switch from the lower steering column and phisically sliding it through its poitions with a small pin punch.

[spidyrmen]

Originally Posted by MrMeCaNiC

actually spidyrmen, it sounds to me like the ignition switch may have slipped on its set bolts... do the gauges normally cycle like that when you turn the key? the IGN is mechanically linked to the key tumbler, so if it slips its position, the key part isnt actually pushing all the way to the 'start' mode, and the fact that the batt light comes on in the ACC position, sudggests that as well.
perhaps try unbolting the ignition switch from the lower steering column and phisically sliding it through its poitions with a small pin punch.

If i put my battery charger directly to the starter and turn the key it will crank over but not start and all of the lights and everything works just fine so i don't think it is the ignition switch because it wouldn't crank if it was

[spidyrmen]

I still have no idea what is wrong with my alero. I can tell you that it has power to the fuses under the hood but not to the fuses in the car