1997 Grand Prix SE with 3800 Series II Naturally Aspirated
Fresh off solving a separate mechanical issue with this vehicle I now have this to contend with. 1 week ago I drove it to work, worked 8 hours, walked back into the parking lot and tried to start it:
NO START, NO TURNING OVER, dash lights either completely turn off or "brown out"... Got it to start by dumb luck after about 30 tries while I was jumping the battery for good measure from a Ford Focus. Battery doesn't appear to be dead, seems like ignition issue...
Then I drove it for almost a week with no problems...
Until I shut it off in a liquor store parking lot tonight, where it currently sits. Tried jumping from a Ford Taurus. No luck at all.
Checked all fuses and wiring harness seems ok, here's what it does currently:
1. Insert the key: hear dinging if door is open. Have control of all interior lights, all seems fine.
2. Turn key to backwards toward the driver (accessorry I believe its called): can use stereo/windows. All seems fine here too.
3. Turn key to ON: one of the following will happen (and I've tried this about 50 times with "a" happening most of the time)
a) power instantly and completely shuts off (no dash lights, no control over windows, stereo goes blank, dash lights completely off). Its as if the battery has suddenly been disconnected. Key is stuck in ignition until about 30 seconds goes by, where-after I can move the key back to off and some dash lights come on.
b) power seems to "brown out", a few lights on the dash seem to barely (if at all) come on and then fade out. Key is stuck in ignition again until I wait, then I can again turn it to 'off'.
c) this only happened about 3 times: seemingly EVERY light on the dash flashes on and off intermittently until I turn the key to off. Kind of frightening actually.
With every failed start I can hear something clicking within the dash (relays, solenoids, who knows I'm not an electronics guy...)
I will post a video, car is right up the road so I'll walk back and post to youtube.
As always, I really need some good advice as to what I should do. Many thanks in advance!
-Scott
