Pretty simple, my car wont start. Here is where it gets tricky. The problem is, I get nothing when I turn the key, nothing happens. However, the brake lights, radio, windows, head lights and every thing else electric works just fine. The battery checks fine for proper voltage. The grounding cable on the battery is pretty new, the engine grounding cable is also new. The ground on the starter is old but when I put a jumper cable on the starter post it sparked so that ground is good aswell, atlest I think its good because electricity is flowing to it so the starter should in theory crank. The starter was recently rebuilt and has been working fine. I replaced the starter relay near the heater box. I also know that sometimes I have this problem when the shifter isnt making contact with the kill switch on the transmission. So I just wiggle the shift *** in park and it makes contact and starts cranking. I feel some what good that this switch is engaged but I guess it could be replaced. I was cranking the car today, I replaced the intake manifold gasket so the distributor was out and the car isn't timed yet so it was hard to ge it running. The car cranked just fine for 15 minutes, the car would start then die before it came to a steady idle. Then poof the ignition system was dead. All other electrical components work just not the ignition. Any thoughts?? Past experiences?? Any input would be appreciated.

 

Hello
It sounds like there may be a couple of issues.
But you said that you had trouble before with the neutral switch on the transmission. I think that all of the electrical components will work if this switch is bad, you just cannot crank or turn over the engine.

That sounds like one of the situations you have now, and I would recheck that switch.

kdf

 

That is proably the first thing I will do tomorrow. For the time being, atleast I can eliminate that as the problem. I just don't think that is what is going on here. Initially I could hear the start relay click loudly when I turned the key. Naturally, I played with it and tried to wiggle wires on the connection. Took it off and put it back on. Then it stopped clicking, so I got a new one and put it on and it also does not click. Sooooo I still don't know if it is supposed to click but I do know that the new one doesn't.

 

you mentioned your starter quit working when you reconnected it. Did you have the starter tested before you reinstalled it? If so, are you sure you hooked the ignition wire up correctly? It should be connected to the 's' terminal on the starter solenoid. The other wire which connects to the 'I' terminal, leads to the ignition coil.



First check to confirm you have power at the large bat + cable. If that checks out, test the ignition solenoid circuit. I can't recall the wire colors now, but it is easily checked with a test light by turning the key to 'start' and observing if the test light comes on. If it doesn't, work your way backwards to just after the neutral safety switch. If you have power there, then the harness has a short between it and the solenoid. If not, test just before the switch. If you now have power, the switch is bad. Same procedure for the ignition switch. This way you can isolate the problem.

 

That is pretty helpful Mr. Lurkin. I also had no idea there was an ignition switch on top of the steering colum. So that is another possibility to check out.

On a side note, the relay i replaced was the ac/heater blower motor. Atleast it looks nice and was only $8

 

Most likely a neutral start switch problem or a gear shift lockout adjustment issue.

 

Turns out it was the neutral safety switch, I made a jumper wire and the car fired up. I said it wouldn't the neutral switch so it had to go bad. I also got my truck washed today and its raining. Guess thats just how it goes. Thanks for the help