HELP - starting problem...

Alright guys and gals, here's the scoop:

I just got my '95 Riviera back from my cousin's place getting fixed. It's been sitting for about 2 years prior to me purchasing it. A lot of things have been fixed including full brakes excluding the pump or MC, rust holes fixed, and some gaskets done.

Today, I went to start the car and....nothing. No cranking, just something like a relay clicking and the dash lights turning on like they should. I tried it twice more and the car started up like normal. No problem. Well, a little bit later when I went to start it again, it started up fine. After a while I come back to it and it does the same thing - three tries, no response from the car aside from the normal dash lights. 4th try it starts fine. The battery is not the problem and I replaced the starter, same problem.

I'm wondering if it has to do with some loose wiring somewhere? I just don't know where to start. It's like the starter isn't even connected to the car, and then the car starts great. The car runs great in every way besides that. Also, yesterday I started getting an intermittent SES light.

Any ideas at all? I really want to get this fixed - I don't want this to become a permenant problem...

Thanks!

-Andrew Z

Have the SES light checked. Might be totally unrelated, but good to know what's causing it.

Could be the ignition switch that's causing your starting problem.

I thought the ignition switch could be a problem. Sigh.

I wish I could the SES light checked...i have ZERO money to pay for a scan. Anyone local that can do it for me .

You might try a local parts store. Some read codes for free. Let them know your car is a '95 model.

Just guessing but since you are sure it is not the battery or the batt. cables or the starter, the first thing that comes to mind is a potential ignition switch trying to fail. Or possibly a bad ground connection where the ground cable connects to the engine.
Next time it does it you could try wiggling the gear shift lever to rule that out.

Bert

Yeah I'll try Advanced tomorrow and see if they will scan for free. If I can get told what it IS then I'll be at a good starting point.

You say ignition switch too? Is this a dealer part and replacement job, just out of curiosity?

could also be a vats issue, try cleaning the chip on the key with some alcohol and maybe hit each side with like some very fine sandpaper 400 grit. will shine it up pretty good. try it and see if it helps with the issue.

When was the battery replaced? Sitting for 2 years can kill a battery.

Usually if it's the ignition switch it will crank but not start.

The battery is literally 3 weeks old. I'm positive (no pun intended) that the battery is good. It's just the weirdest problem. The car does NOTHING when I turn the key, like the starter is shot. But the starter is fine because it did this same problem with the old starter as the new. I know, buying a new one was a mistake but the symptoms pointed to it.

Anyway, the ignition switch does make sense since this is an intermittent problem. Sometimes it starts normal, other times it won't do a thing. I just hope this isn't a big deal. And I hope it ends up to be the switch, not wiring.

When this happens do the dash lights come on, or do you have _nothing_? Double check that your connections are tight at the battery terminals...

No all the dash lights come on like the car WANTS to start, but the only thing that doesnt engage is the starter. everything else is normal .

OK, just checkin...

Hmmm...found something interesting. I find that if I leave the key in the ignition for a few seconds before starting the car, it starts up the first time, even cold.

Could this have to do with the key security system? I'm still learning these cars...

Which dash lights are on when you turn the key but starter does not engage?

Albertj

All lights are coming on like they're supposed to - like the car WANTS to start but it won't engage. I hope that answered your question. I don't really know how to say it other than the lights operate normally but sometimes the starter doesnt engage at all.

If the problem is the security system, the security yellow light will stay on while you are trying to start.

If you are getting no crank... hmm... does this car have an aftermarket security system installed?

Albertj

Yeah the security light does NOT stay on while trying to crank. So I guess that rules that out. Oh and it has the factory security system, not aftermarket.

Well, like I mentioned in the last post, if I leave the key in for a few seconds before I turn it to crank the car, it starts fine and pretty quickly. This is very strange.

I think what I meant to say before is that the Passkey (?) system could be the problem? Not the security system necessarily. I'm under the impression those are separate systems. Either that or a bad ignition switch like suggested. Either of those sounds pretty likely at this point since the problem is very VERY random.

Well, the car is at the dealer now. I was on my way there to ask them when I could drop it off and the alternator/steering pump belt got chewed up and thrown off the pulleys. Luckily I had enough power to get the rest of the way there. Messed up my hood insulator though...

I guess I'm down a car again. Already. But I made them a list of things that need done that I can't do myself so hopefully they'll fix the car up...

Well, I got a call from the dealer today and they said that the starting problem was due to dirty fuses?? This makes sense as the car was sitting for so long and was filthy when I got it. I trust this dealer with everything I've got so I'm banking on them being right. We'll see how it holds up. The belt tensioner and pulley need replaced so I'll get the car back after that and we'll see if that really is the starting problem after all.

Dirty fuses. That's a new one. Glad you figured it out.

They must have meant corroded or "Dirty" connections in the fuse panel holders.

I think that's what they meant Rick - that makes more sense to me. But again, I really hope that's all the problem was. From what I can recall, ignition switch problems are not all THAT common and I'd hate to be part of that statistic if I don't have to be.

That car better start every time from now on...

Mine was having this problem, but it turned out to be the negative battery cable not wanting to stay firm.

Thanks Jamie - I like input like that so I can keep a lookout for little problems like that.