Well Mr. Vader, Mr. ODB, and Mr. Skip, I checked the wires to the starter and solinoid and alt. they look good. I could not find ONE of the fusable links on the lines to and from the battery and starter. But something strange happened. I did see two wires coming off of the positive battery cable nd it had a 20 amp fuse in line. I took the fuse out and just for fun I 0hooked the battery up and the little dinger thing came on that the door was open and the key was in the ignition. I went to start it up and every thing went dead again. I DID replace the ignition about 4 months ago and everything went really smooth, no problems. Could that thing be fried? And if so, what could cause two ignition swithes to fry in 4 months?

If I am barking up the wrong tree, let me know. If there is something else that I should be checking, let me. know.

Thank you
Chris

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1987 GTA 350,rebuilt in 1998. new heads, headers w/y-pipe, 45,000coil, accel plug wires and cap&rotor, k&n, b&m shift kit and trans cooler, modified mass airflow sensor, manual fans switch. No time slip.

1993 Bonneville SSE ALL STOCK. 95,xxx miles and stil counting...

 

I don't know why, there may be a short in something connected off the switch. Try unhooking as much as you can to eliminate things. It may take some more playing around and looking for symptoms. It is hard for me to help much with the info so far and I can't be there.

Possible solution:
remove radiator cap
push car out of driveway
pull in 2001 Trans Am
replace cap


ODB

 

Mr. ODB, "Hardy-FREAKIN'-HAR" ...anyhoo...

I think I am going to start with replacing the ignition switch. I think I still have the reciept and I will see if I can elimninate that for free.

If anyone else has any advice OTHER THAN JUST GETTING A NEW TRANS AM, (wise a$$) I would really appreiciate it.

Thanks Again,
Chris




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1987 GTA 350,rebuilt in 1998. new heads, headers w/y-pipe, 45,000coil, accel plug wires and cap&rotor, k&n, b&m shift kit and trans cooler, modified mass airflow sensor, manual fans switch. No time slip.

1993 Bonneville SSE ALL STOCK. 95,xxx miles and stil counting...

 

Well I had the same problem, I replaced the ignition cylinder and that was the end of it. Good luck.

 

if it's another bad ignition switch then obviously something is making them fail. Still have to find what's wrong.
ODB

 

Did I mention that I do NOt have power to anything besides the dome light and the digger? The headlights don't work at all, but when I turn the ignition backwards, the radio comes on. If I attempt to start it, EVERYTHING goes dead. ANYONE? ANYONE?

I am about to give up and just sell it and get a Mustang. (As you can see, this thing is making me crazy!)

Thanks
Chris

------------------
1987 GTA 350,rebuilt in 1998. new heads, headers w/y-pipe, 45,000coil, accel plug wires and cap&rotor, k&n, b&m shift kit and trans cooler, modified mass airflow sensor, manual fans switch. No time slip.

1993 Bonneville SSE ALL STOCK. 95,xxx miles and stil counting...

 

It does sound like another ignition switch failure. Take a closer look around that area when you are replacing it. There must be a short.

 

This is just a stab in the dark. Perhaps the battery is connected loosely? These symptoms happened to me when my brother pointed this out, problem solved. Don't really know the history of the problem, just trying to help.

------------------
--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series

 

Chris,

Having a fuse holder in the starter wiring harness is not normal. Someone must have had problems before.

ODB isn't that far off, but instead of disconnecting everything at connectors or wires, make a note of your fuse locations (sizes) and remove the fuses and breakers. Don't forget the fuel pump/ECM fuse under the hood.

For diagnosis, it might be easier to add some long alligator jumpers to the wire harness and extend the fuse holder to a more accessible location. Install another fuse or wire in a circuit breaker, then try it again. Turn on the ignition, then see if the fuse is blown. If not, start replacing fuses one at a time. One of the circuits should yield some results.

Save the fuel pump for last, since that or the ECM might be a problem. If your ECM looks like this inside, you might be eating fuses.



Regardless, there should be a fusible link at the starter, not an inline fuse holder. You should change that at your earliest convenience.

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

Thank you. I will try agian tomorrow. I live on an Army post and I have to get this thing off of the ramps or I will get in trouble. It is also m daily drive, just to and from the airfield, but I need it back. I will try the very methodical approach that Vader said and I will see what happens.

Thank you all very much. I had nothing to go on before, now I got something.

Chris

 

WELL, I got it runnig, it was the starter solinoid. I gave my dad a call and he was like he knew right off the bat. I did not listen to him at first. But I dicided to give it a try and guess what? The old man was right. Go figure. I DO apprieciate all the help you guys gave me. It did help. This is the bes site on the web for tech info. A real wealth of knowledge. I just wish I had some experience to go along with it.

Thanks again.
Chris

------------------
1987 GTA 350,rebuilt in 1998. new heads, headers w/y-pipe, 45,000coil, accel plug wires and cap&rotor, k&n, b&m shift kit and trans cooler, modified mass airflow sensor, manual fans switch. No time slip.

1993 Bonneville SSE ALL STOCK. 95,xxx miles and stil counting...