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First time poster, so go easy! LOL. I am having intermittent starting issues. First crank of the day, it turns and starts no problem. Subsequent restarts are hit and miss. I turn the key and sometimes it starts, sometimes it does nothing. If it doesn't start, I come back in a few mins and it starts and I can repeat the first start of the day cycle. I'm thinking the ignition switch, but I'm not a great tron chaser. Thoughts?
Last edited by USMC6113; Sep 18, 2022 at 06:20 PM.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
It's not clear from your description: When it fails to start, is the starter turning the engine over and the engine is not starting, or is nothing happening whatsoever?
If the starter is engaging and the engine is not starting, you don't have an ignition switch issue. If nothing is happening at all, the switch could just be out of adjustment. To check for an out-of-adjustment switch, drop the steering column down so you can access the two 5/16 head hex screws holding the switch to the top of the steering column. Once you have pulled the screws you can pull the switch down alongside the column. At this point, you can then simply stick a small flat-bladed screwdriver into the rod engagement slot in the switch and pull it towards you against the spring pressure to simulate the key pulling on the switch. If the starter engages and the engine starts, you just have a switch adjustment problem. If nothing happens, you now have the switch pulled down and accesible so you can check to see if the wire to the starter ("S" terminal") goes hot when you pull the switch manually.
You should probably indicate the car year, type of transmission, engine size in order to get better ideas to fix your problem. If you have a manual transmission, there is a safety switch on the clutch pedal. For automatic transmissions, there is also a safety switch. You may need to get a year specific Chevrolet Factory Service Manual, they are used ones on EBay at very reasonable costs.
It's a 1974 L-48 (no apparent modifications) with an automatic transmission, sorry about that.
What I observed thus far:
There is an aftermarket radio that was professionally installed, the power button is the only light indication in the cockpit that the ignition is on. When I get a "nothing" start when I try and start the car, the power light on the radio will dim as if the starter was drawing power, but it's not cranking. Now I am thinking starter issue (damn trons!). LOL
What I have tried thus far:
The obvious wiggle and jiggle of the key in the ignition! Starting in park and neutral on a successful crank both work fine, after a "nothing" start, neither works. The only working solution thus far is to come back in a few minutes and try again.
The car, once started, runs fine. Once you shut it off however, it may or may not start back up.
Here is an interesting update, I was able to start the car in gear.
Last edited by USMC6113; Sep 19, 2022 at 07:01 PM.
It always starts when in gear? Should not start in gear if neutral safety switch working properly. Bypass the neutral safety switch and see if it starts consistently while in PN and in gear. May need a switch replacement or adjustment. I'm unfamiliar with neutral safety switch set up on autos cause my car is a manual, but I'm sure someone here will comment if they're adjustable. If not, new switch perhaps.
So something to keep in mind is the 74 had the seat sensors that I believe disable the car from starting if your not physically sitting in the seat.. I bypassed mine but its another circuit that can be disabling the ignition and something to look at.
Thank you, I was not aware of that. I have cranked the car without sitting in it, so it's possible. I foresee many tron issues in my future! Off to Google! Was it a weight switch or seatbelt must be fastened switch?
Thank you, I was not aware of that. I have cranked the car without sitting in it, so it's possible. I foresee many tron issues in my future! Off to Google! Was it a weight switch or seatbelt must be fastened switch?
weight switch you can unplug. they are used for seat belt warning too.
It finally quit working all together. I disconnected the battery, hooked the wire up as recommended and reconnected the battery cable. Once I touched the battery with the jumper wire, the starter engaged. Then I tried the key, and it energized the starter as well. I do not think the seat switches are hooked up because I turned the key w/o sitting in the seat when the starter engaged.
I will try the NSS next (I haven't had the car long and I want to get some quality seat time in before it goes away for the winter). The horn doesn't work, so I'd like to fix that while I'm in there as well.
Last edited by USMC6113; Sep 23, 2022 at 06:46 PM.
1974 Ignition switch
