intermittent starting issue
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 65
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From: gaithersburg, MD
intermittent starting issue
Got a 1988 GTA with the 305. I'm have intermittent starting issues with the car. There are times when I'll hit the ignition and nothing happens other than the normal bells, whistles and lights. There;s no clicking at the starter, it's just dead. Then, after several attempts it'll start up and be fine for several weeks, then do it all over again. Could it be a switch issue? Battery? Or could it be this sensor deal that's on our ignition key itself for GTAs? Not sure... Any info is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff
Thanks,
Jeff
Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 210
Likes: 2
From: Thomaston, CT
Car: 88 GTA, 91 GTA, 92 T/A vert
Transmission: 6 speed & 700 r4's
Re: intermittent starting issue
When it won't crank check the small ignition wire at the starter solenoid to see if you are getting 12 volts with the key in the crank position. If you do not get 12v then the problem is somewhere in the ignition circuit. If you do get 12v then the problem is either the starter, the solenoid or a bad ground.
These are some of the things I have come across which have caused the same symptoms;
Make sure you have good clean and tight connections to the battery and the starter solenoid. Might want to swap the solenoid while you're under there.
If there is an alarm system with a starter disable relay, check that out. Often times when the installers put those in they do a real hack job on the wiring that cause this problem.
You may have a bad ground, check the main grounds (check the negative battery cable which goes to the engine and the "strap" from the right rear cylinder head to the firewall etc...)
It could be your Park/Neutral switch (Neutral Safety switch if it's a stick) or a flaky ignition switch acting up, Check those out with an ohms meter.
Your fuel pump may be on the way out, check for fuel pressure when it won't crank. I have no idea why it wouldn't crank when my fuel pump was on it's way out, but that is exactly what happened, for about a month before the pump died, intermittently not cranking.
As far as the VATS, the resistor in the key, my '88 GTA doesn't have that
If yours does, then look at the "Security" warning light when you turn the key...
These are some of the things I have come across which have caused the same symptoms;
Make sure you have good clean and tight connections to the battery and the starter solenoid. Might want to swap the solenoid while you're under there.
If there is an alarm system with a starter disable relay, check that out. Often times when the installers put those in they do a real hack job on the wiring that cause this problem.
You may have a bad ground, check the main grounds (check the negative battery cable which goes to the engine and the "strap" from the right rear cylinder head to the firewall etc...)
It could be your Park/Neutral switch (Neutral Safety switch if it's a stick) or a flaky ignition switch acting up, Check those out with an ohms meter.
Your fuel pump may be on the way out, check for fuel pressure when it won't crank. I have no idea why it wouldn't crank when my fuel pump was on it's way out, but that is exactly what happened, for about a month before the pump died, intermittently not cranking.
As far as the VATS, the resistor in the key, my '88 GTA doesn't have that
If yours does, then look at the "Security" warning light when you turn the key... 
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