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Starting problem, no crank, nothing

T

TheInterloper

New member
01 GTP 140k on the engine and transmission.

Background: last week I was having a hard time getting the car to start, it would make an awful squelching noise and it would stutter but would eventually start. Monday comes and now it doesn’t do anything. It will not crank. It has the all the signs of a dead battery, I turn the key and I literally get nothing. All the interior lights and radio go dead while the key is in the start position and once it is released all come back on normally. Battery is good, starter is brand new. I Replaced that as I thought it was the issue because, as I said, would stutter and was making a terrible noise during starting, but once it was running everything was normal. The starter didn’t solve anything, or at least not yet. Maybe it fixed the squelch.

Some quirky things about this situation. I can’t remove the key because it will not fully go to OFF. I also cannot shift out of park, I had to use the shift lock release to get it to neutral so I could move it back a bit to work on the starter. It traveled back into park without issue, but again it will not allow me to depress the button and shift. I have also been hearing and feeling a clicking noise within the shifter whenever I am braking. It only occurs if I am in drive, if I put it into neutral and brake there is no clicking.
I read in another thread that the ignition switch could be at fault, I replaced that a few years ago so perhaps I got a faulty one? It was a Duralast part so IIRC it has a limited lifetime warranty on it.
I am looking for some input before I tear apart my steering column again.

Thanks in advance, I’m scratching my head at this point.
 


double check all of the fuses, if the crank, PCM or transmission fuses blew it won't let the ignition cylinder know the car is in park/neutral/etc and wont put power to anything in the engine bay or the trans.
 
will it jump start? it sounds a lot like a bad battery, or go back and clean the terminals with wire brush, make then nice and shiny.
 
I know the battery is good. Replaced it 2 years ago. Plus I had it on a charger, it was fully charged after about 20 minutes. I also tried it with the 50amp starting setting, still nothing.

I'll take a look at the fuses when I get home.

For the cable, how much work is involved on that one, it has had intermittent issues in the past of not fully engaging park. I just had to 'wiggle' the button a bit until I heard the key click, then I could remove it. I figured it was the shift lock solenoid (it think that's what its called) of the new ignition switch.
 
under the master cylinder is the end of the cable on the tranny, theres a clip on the cable to the lever, make sure its still tight, have some one pull it out of park into gear then back in to park, you'll see the cable end having play. if theres any. you might be able to push the lever too if theres enough play to feel it.

you can also try to start it in neutral.
 


So I found that the IGN Main fuse was blown. I replaced that but I still get nothing when I turn the key.
Where are the other fuses you mentioned? The Trans and the pcm. I didn't see them listed on either the engine bay box or the pass side one.

I also tried replacing the ignition switch because, hey, it's under warranty and why not at this point.

I checked the cables both at the shifter and the trans, both seem tight.

I also read this thread:
http://www.grandprixforums.net/threads/78332-Grand-Prix-stuck-in-park

The wires are fine but when I press the brake pedal it's not actuating the release mechanism. It says that there is a brake solenoid behind the pedal, but that wouldn't inhibit it's ability to start would it? It's my next step unless someone has anything else to recommend.
Also, I tried starting in neutral and I get the same result.
 
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After looking at this in the daylight this morning, the 40A fuse is blown again. I must have another component that is dead and is causing too much power to flow through the circuit or I have a wire grounding out along the line. Does anyone know off hand if there are other things on the fuse?
Im going to look for a wiring diagram today but if someone were to post one I wouldn't be upset :)
 
Did you wire the starter properly? How are battery cables?
You could have a dead cell in the battery and it can still test fine at the parts store. I've had a dead battery and the 50a start setting wouldn't work until I charged it.

Make sure the ground on the ignition harness at the coil packs is good.
 
Problem solved. After tracing wires for a few days I found where 3 wires were rubbed bare coming off of the neutral safety switch. It appears they were rubbing on one of the brake line nuts where it goes from metal to the tubing. So after a few solder jobs and jacketing that line the car is running again. I still can't shift out of park, but at least it's drivable again.
Thanks to those who had input.
 
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