Hi,

My 91 is in the body shop right now and they called me saying the car was running fine yesterday but won't start today. They thought it might be the starter and installed a new one with no luck.

They put juice to the starter directly and the car starts and runs fine. But the starter does not get any juice when trying to start it with the key.

I'm thinking fuseable link...... Could that be the problem or am I missing something?

Thanks

 

It could very well be the fusible link.

 

That is what it's sounding like to me as well.

What other "check points" are there before it sends juice to the starter?

The diode in the key is good because it starts and stays running when they apply juice directly to the starter so I know it's not that...... but I'm thinking there are a few more.

I've had this problem before years ago.... just forgot what the fix was.

 

Quite probably could be the neutral/park safety swith on the shifter. Try taking the shifter all the way down to first and puting it into park rather firmly (with the car off, of course...). Also, try pushing forward on the shifter or forward and to one side or another while in park and turning the key. You could also try starting the car with the shifter in neutral.

If that does not do it, you can pull the shifter cover panel off and you will see a plug on the shifter with some heavy and light wires going in it. The heavy wires are Purple and Tan/White (or possibly dark green). This is a good place to check for +12 (on the tan - or green if that is what you have) when turning the key to "start". That would tell you that everything is good up to the safety switch.

The "check points" should be as follows (in order):

*Battery
*Fusable Link
*Red Wire
*Ignition switch
(Branches Here - 1 and 2 below)
*1)Pink Wire from Ign switch - Hot in Run, Bulb Test/Start
*1)Pink wire to Starter Enable relay (trigger)
*1)Black/Yellow wire (ground of Starter Eanable Relay) to Pass Key Decoder (Negative trigger for Starter Enable Relay)
*2)Yellow wire from Ign switch - Hot in start only
*2)Yellow wire goes into Starter Enable Relay (switched side)
*2)Tan/White or Dark Green comes out of switched side of relay to Park/Neutral safety switch
*Purple out of P/N switch to starter solenoid - Purple only hot (connected to Dk Green or Tan/Wht) with the shifter in park or neutral.


This means possibilities could be the fusible link, Ign Switch, Starter Enable Relay, PassKey module (least likely, IMO), The Safety Switch, or the Solenoid.

I tnink it is most likely the P/N safety switch. A test light or VOM would help trouble shoot things quickly. Hope this helps. Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the post!!
I forgot about the tranny shifter!
I replaced that about a year or two ago.
And the problem was "old" lube.
That just might be the culprit..... when I replaced it and it was the problem.... I cracked it open and it was dry as a bone.
No lube!

The body shop has major dust like any body shop.... and the repair to the car has been done for the most part with the top down. car.
It may just not be making the contact.
The interior has a lot of dust on it and that just might be the problem.

I'll try that tomorrow
THANKS!!
I knew I was missing something!

 

Before you go digging in too deep, try starting the car with the spare key. I had the same problem you're describing and it turned out to be my V.A.T.S. chip was wore down so much that it was making the proper connection. When I used my spare key, the car started right up and I had a lot of stuff to put back together. Just a thought.

 

Good Call.

 

 

Just wanted to give an update.

Status is fixed!

Over the weekend I went through my 91 Camaro Service manual and looked at the wiring diagrams.
Which lead me to believe I should check the gear selector switch first.

Monday morning I arrived at the body shop at 8am.
I opened up the area on the console to get me to the gear selector switch. Got my trusty voltmeter out and took a reading on the tan and white wire. Turned the key like I'm starting the car and nothing! Note. this wire is dead until you try to crank the car.

So having found that out.... Before it sends juice to the gear selector switch it must pass the starter enable relay located on the drivers side fender pocket. I pulled off the panel and there she was just barely dangling on the cord.

I plugged it in and she fired right up.
I left at 8:20am. That was the quickest I've ever fixed a problem on this car.


The body shop had to replace the drivers fender and in doing so.... the starter enable relay got wiggled loose.

So there you have it.

Thanks for helping me solve this problem!
Can't beat teamwork on solving a problem.