2001 Grand Prix won't start.

[jhalv]

Hello,

I have a 2001 Grand Prix SE 3.1 V6 that won't start anymore. In the past I would intermittently have the problem where the car would not turn over when you turned the key. All that would happen is you'd hear a few relays click. The problem would solve itself if you sometimes just re-turned the key or held the key for a few seconds. Well now starting last night it will not start at all with the key. When I turn the key everything powers up and I can hear the sound of two relays engaging. One under the hood (driver side) and one under the glove box.

I've tested the battery and battery connections. I've had the starter/solenoid tested three times today and it passes. The car starts up perfectly if you jump the solenoid with a screw driver.

Could it be the ignition switch? I don't want to start pouring money into the car until I get a rough idea what's causing the problem.

Does anyone have an idea what might be the problem?

 

[Explicit_Spade]

I would check grounds and see if that solves the problem. You can also clean the battery terminals as well as the wires on the alternator and starter.

 

[jhalv]

I broke out my Haynes manual and started tracing wires checking for anything broken. I checked grounds and couldn't find anything. When I tried starting the car I wasn't getting any voltage on the purple wire running to my solenoid. So I went and got some wire and a push button switch and ran it to my solenoid. It solved (bypassed) the problem and the car starts perfectly now. I just don't know what happened.

Edit: I've just now found out that my automatic headlights don't work. I have to manually turn them on. A minor issue but wonder what could cause that.