Intrigue Starting Problems '00 w/3.5L

Starting Problems!

The problem is, it won’t start! Before I go into the current problems I’ll go into how I got to this point……

It started when intermittently, I would go to start the car and when I turned the key, nothing happened. After multiple tries, it would finally engage the starter and the car would fire right up. It would go in streaks, everything would be starting fine, then a couple times of no-start (no rolling over, nothing). I was trying to narrow things down to figure out what the cause was and finally narrowed it to the ignition switch.
I now got a new switch and prepared the install. After getting it in, it was time to do the relearn. When putting the key it and turning it on, nothing happened for a little while. Finally the lights lit up and the re-learn was on. Finally, the car would start, but it had a quirk…I would have to put the key in, try to start the car, return to the on position, wait at least 5 seconds and the dash would finally light up and now the car would start. While a pain in the rump, I felt that I could deal with that seeing this is just my runner to go to work. However, after 24 hours, I had to relearn the whole thing all over again. After consulting a mechanic, he thought it sounded like I may have gotten a bad ignition switch so I took it back and got another one. I installed the newer one and when I turn on the key, all the lights lit up, just as they were supposed to. Now for the next dilemma…During the learn process, all of a sudden, the battery went down, fast. It was a fairly new battery (about 2 months old). I put it on the charger to get it back up. After multiple attempts, there was nothing. I talked to another mechanic and he suggested turning the car on for ½ hour and then trying it. After trying that a couple times, the car fired up! I could shut the car off and re-fire it, no problem. I probably did this about 15 times just to make sure. At this point, I still had the entire dash loose because I’ve had so much trouble. As I bolted in each item, I would restart the car just to make sure (hey, I was paranoid at this point) It would start each time. Now I got the dash completely together and NO START!
At this point, I can’t get the car to start at all. Now, if I put the key in and turn it to the “on” position, the security light comes on. If I try to start it and let it return to the “on” position, the security light goes off. Also, If I turn on the car to the on position, after about 2 minutes, the entire electrical system seems to die down like the battery is dead, even if I have the charger on the battery at the time. The radio goes dead first, then the anti-lock brake light begins to blink, then stay on solid, then the brake light comes on. At this point, if you press the brake, the gages on the dash go nuts, any other electrical device shuts down. What would be causing this major draw on the battery? With charger on it, it shouldn’t be shutting everything down. Any idea why I can’t get this to start?

Other quirks going on also: 1) The steering wheel doesn’t lock into position when the car isn’t running (I can turn the wheels left and right when the car is off, no key in and in park) 2) Cruise stopped working a couple weeks before the no start began. 3) The crankshaft position sensor is beginning to go bad and needs replacing (figured that out looking thru the forum and found someone else with all the same symptoms) 4) The primary key that I use, I can remove, even while the car is running. I am having the problems listed above with the old key or the spare one (that is like new and won’t pull out) Both keys are genuine GM keys.

Just as a recap: When I insert the key and turn it to the ‘on’ position, the fuel pump primes, the dash lights up for a couple seconds, all lights go off except the security light, when I try to turn the key to ‘start’, you get a little click up in the dash. After returning the key to the ‘on’ position, the security light is no longer on.

Any help or ideas?????????? Thanks.

If you can get the starter relay to click (but no start):

-not enough current (battery or alternator connections bad or corroded)
-solenoid in starter in corroded (takes much more current to get the magnetic switch to move)

You probably have one of the most frustrating problems since it's hard to repeat the problem and it seems to happen without any consistency.

I agree with panzer that something may be going on with your battery or alternator but something is going on with the ignition switch as well. The fact that your steering wheel doesn't lock and you can remove the key when in the "on" position makes me think the ignition switch may not be installed correctly. Also it's happening with all your keys. I would double check the installation.

Also why did you do the "re-learn" procedure? I replaced my ignition switch last June and did not do the "re-learn" procedure. I haven't had any issues since then. I followed littlehoov's directions. I know you are suppose to do the procedure for the crankshaft position sensor.

I pulled the starter tonight and will take it in to get tested tomorrow. After pulling it, I tested the wires to the starter just to check. One (main red one) has power going to the whole time. The second (purple I think, going to the solenoid) gets power when the key gets turned to the start position. That helps me to know that the starter is getting juice and is probably the culprit. The battery is brand new and was fully charged, so I don't think that will be the problem.

The situation with the key being able to pull out....it did that before any of the problems and is only the case with one key (the main one) the spare is still in new condition and will become the primary. The steering wheel not locking into position was also pre-problems. However, what would cause this? and how do I fix that part of it?

Thanks.

The main key pulling out of the ignition is interesting. The easy solution is use the second key but....... There will be others that may have suggestions on how to fix this problem.

I'd love to see a picture of that key. You must have really worn it down.

My steering wheel doesn't lock either. I didn't know it was supposed to lock until now actually...