Working on cars
Well, we have been having problems with my 1998 Pontiac Sunfire my kid drives. It runs like a champ and the tranny works awesome (thank you threecrabs). We have been having a starting issue. It started before Rich worked on it, but had him throw in a new starter to see if that would fix the problem. Well, needless to say it was not the starter. We just replaced the Neutral Safety switch last night and that did not solve the issue. The issue is, the coil is not getting power when you turn the key so that the starter engages. At this point, I think all it can be is the actual ignition. He has been jumping the coil to the battery to start it for a while now...LOL. Poor kid goes from no reverse in his car for 6 months to having to pop his hood everytime he has to start his car. I think at this point, I am going to wire in a momentary toggle switch to do the jump so he does not have to pop the hood. He was kind of excited about this idea, "it will be like a race car"....LOL. The ignition is around $200 and I just can not see putting that kind of money in it. It will most likely be a toggle SPST Momentary on, normally off switch, but I would really like to find a push button switch that is red and says "START" on it. Any ideas on where to find one? I have checked google, ebay, summit racing, and auto zone.
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
Those are a lil harder to find, but... here's one DIY I found:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Push-Butto...n-for-your-Car/
And the starter you can find in many places:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GTQJD2
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/product_...mp;currency=USD
I'd even think of using a Nitrous toggle. So he has to flip the lil red safety cover then fire it up. Good luck with the project. It certainly sounds like an ignition issue.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Push-Butto...n-for-your-Car/
And the starter you can find in many places:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GTQJD2
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/product_...mp;currency=USD
I'd even think of using a Nitrous toggle. So he has to flip the lil red safety cover then fire it up. Good luck with the project. It certainly sounds like an ignition issue.
![](http://style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="<_<)
![](style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="<_<)
QUOTE(fish n chicks @ Jul 22 2009, 08:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Those are a lil harder to find, but... here's one DIY I found:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Push-Butto...n-for-your-Car/
And the starter you can find in many places:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GTQJD2
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/product_...mp;currency=USD
I'd even think of using a Nitrous toggle. So he has to flip the lil red safety cover then fire it up. Good luck with the project. It certainly sounds like an ignition issue.
I might do the Nitrous style, if they make them in Momentary on. I am going to fuse it inline as well so I do not kill the coil quicker than it should.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Push-Butto...n-for-your-Car/
And the starter you can find in many places:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GTQJD2
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/product_...mp;currency=USD
I'd even think of using a Nitrous toggle. So he has to flip the lil red safety cover then fire it up. Good luck with the project. It certainly sounds like an ignition issue.
I might do the Nitrous style, if they make them in Momentary on. I am going to fuse it inline as well so I do not kill the coil quicker than it should.
I have an entire 1995 sunfire, bad motor, new tires brakes and struts id let go for 350.00 obo...
did you check the steering column for loose or bad connections? could be an old alarm system or remote starter problems, as in some one use to have this stuff on this car and took it out and the connections from those installs and uninstalls are now bad. does the key have an antitheft chip in it that is now bad or the coil around the ignition key switch that picks up the key may be bad now?
Why not just replace the faulty ignition switch?
Before you go installing a toggle switch or the like, I'd be making 100% sure that M.Y. sunfire didnt have Passlock, otherwise a toggle switch is likely no worky.
Before you go installing a toggle switch or the like, I'd be making 100% sure that M.Y. sunfire didnt have Passlock, otherwise a toggle switch is likely no worky.
QUOTE(NoShow @ Jul 22 2009, 09:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have an entire 1995 sunfire, bad motor, new tires brakes and struts id let go for 350.00 obo...
my cousin likes to replace engines for a hobby . . . what engine does it have in it?
my cousin likes to replace engines for a hobby . . . what engine does it have in it?
QUOTE(Chriznat25 @ Jul 22 2009, 09:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Why not just replace the faulty ignition switch?
Before you go installing a toggle switch or the like, I'd be making 100% sure that M.Y. sunfire didnt have Passlock, otherwise a toggle switch is likely no worky.
Currently, he has to turn the key on, then jump between the coil on the starter and the + terminal on the battery. I have checked the voltage at the coil while he turns the key to the starting position, and it is 0Vdc. I am assuming it can only be the ignition switch at this point. I have tried everything else.
Before you go installing a toggle switch or the like, I'd be making 100% sure that M.Y. sunfire didnt have Passlock, otherwise a toggle switch is likely no worky.
Currently, he has to turn the key on, then jump between the coil on the starter and the + terminal on the battery. I have checked the voltage at the coil while he turns the key to the starting position, and it is 0Vdc. I am assuming it can only be the ignition switch at this point. I have tried everything else.
Patriot,
I can get you starting schematics for that vehicle so you can trace the problem and fix it to original condition if you like.
I can get you starting schematics for that vehicle so you can trace the problem and fix it to original condition if you like.
You may be looking at an IPC (cluster) problem. The cluster has a theft deterrent in it and there are some resisters that change value which would not let the car start. We see the problem all the time. If you pull the cluster, I can check it out for you.
Sounds like the crank position sensor. my moms car was acting the same way, and thats what it was. $90 piece of metal. not really easy to get at. but I'd look into that possibility
Crank sensor wouldn't cause the vehicle to not crank.
passkey is my bet, do you have a "chip" in the key? Is there a security light on with the car running?
That is a PassLock vehicle. It will only disable fuel not the starter.
I do not think there is a chip in the key, but I could be wrong. The black rubber coating is wore off the key and it looks like a normal key. They are the original keys. If it was a theft deterrent system, would I still be able to start it bu jumping like I have? I guess it could. I have the schematic, that is how I came to the first and second conclusion. It is a hooptie car, nothing fancy. I received the car free from a girl at work that was going to donate it. It had a transmission leak and the power steering pump was bad. I replaced both. The starting problem has been on-going for a while now. I have tried both keys, and neither works better than the other. For a free car, I have about 2K into it so far.....so much for being free....LOL. I did know it had problems, so I can not complain. I am just trying to limit my $$ going into it at this point.
I also have to replace the water pump on my 2004 Chevy Express 1500 Conversion van. It is leaking and only has about 50K miles on it.
I also have to replace the water pump on my 2004 Chevy Express 1500 Conversion van. It is leaking and only has about 50K miles on it.
QUOTE(The Patriot @ Jul 23 2009, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I do not think there is a chip in the key, but I could be wrong. The black rubber coating is wore off the key and it looks like a normal key. They are the original keys. If it was a theft deterrent system, would I still be able to start it bu jumping like I have? I guess it could. I have the schematic, that is how I came to the first and second conclusion. It is a hooptie car, nothing fancy. I received the car free from a girl at work that was going to donate it. It had a transmission leak and the power steering pump was bad. I replaced both. The starting problem has been on-going for a while now. I have tried both keys, and neither works better than the other. For a free car, I have about 2K into it so far.....so much for being free....LOL. I did know it had problems, so I can not complain. I am just trying to limit my $ going into it at this point.
I also have to replace the water pump on my 2004 Chevy Express 1500 Conversion van. It is leaking and only has about 50K miles on it.
its the security engaging i just went thru this with my moms grand am. you have to reset it. turn the key to the on position for 10 min than turn it off for 30 seconds and the car will start. sometimes it takes 2 or 3 times. go and get a new key cut at the dealer. this will fix the problem for a while but it will happen again. just do the key turn and it will start. my mom even fixed the chevy van at her work after we did her car.
I also have to replace the water pump on my 2004 Chevy Express 1500 Conversion van. It is leaking and only has about 50K miles on it.
its the security engaging i just went thru this with my moms grand am. you have to reset it. turn the key to the on position for 10 min than turn it off for 30 seconds and the car will start. sometimes it takes 2 or 3 times. go and get a new key cut at the dealer. this will fix the problem for a while but it will happen again. just do the key turn and it will start. my mom even fixed the chevy van at her work after we did her car.
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Lake St. Clair Fishing Forum
A forum community dedicated to all things Lake St. Clair. Come join the discussion about fishing guides, news, safety, reports, boating, tips, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
