Ignition Problem-Please Help

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-02-2009

Hi All
I have a 97 grand prix se. 47k miles on it. Last night I parked it and removed the key not knowing that it was still in the off position just before the lock position. It sat in the garage all night and would not start this morning. Nothing happened when I turned the ignition. Assuming a dead battery, I pushed the car out of the gagrage and tried to jump it, but nothing again. I realized that the position of the ignition was not correct and found the switch under the steering wheel and turned the ignition to the correct position and tried to jump it again. Did not work again. Any ideas from anyone out there what the problem may be? I checked all ignition fuses and all seem fine.
Nothing in the car works, i.e. headlights interior lights radio.. NOTHING

Thanks in advance.
Ellen

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-03-2009

UPDATE:
I pulled the battery and took it to be tested. Full charge. Put car back together and now all I have for electrical in the car are the chimes. Car still wont turn over. Nothing happens when I turn the key. No clicks nothing. If anyone can please help me. I am single mother that needs to use this car to get kids back and forth to school.

**dstout** · 05-03-2009

I have not had the problem you are having so I don't know what to tell you but I will look around and see if I can find out anything.
How long have you had your car?
There are other places you can ask too I attached the links if you don't know about these sites.
If I find anything I'll let you know.

Grand Prixs Of North America • Index page
Club Grand Prix! Your online Grand Prix & G8 resource
got3800.com/forum/index.php

**stlmo_gtp** · 05-03-2009

i think the first thing that i would check is make sure that you have power coming out and then go from there, the battery may be fully charged but if it isn't sending power anywhere then you would at least have an idea of what the problem is, use a test light and start at the battery and then work your way to the under the hood fuse box make sure that you have power going in and make sure that you have power going out, then if that all checks out make sure that you have power going to the coils along with checking to see if you power coming into the car, i have never had this problem but if i did this is probably how i would start because with electrical it is all just a game and you just have to trace it out step by step

**dstout** · 05-03-2009

Have you checked the battery cables for corrosion? You might try scraping the insides of the clamps and get some new lead exposed and scrape off the battey posts so you get a good connection. Also check the ground wire and see if that didn't come loose somewhere.

If those things are alright try jiggling the key in the ignition cylinder it could be the ignition cylinder where something didn't set right when you turned the car off last nite.
Has your key ever gotten stuck in the ignition and you couldn't get it out?

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-04-2009

Thanks for giving me a starting point everyone and thank you for the other links. I will post to those today also. A friend will be coming over this afternoon to see if he can help with this problem.

I have had this car only for 3 weeks and have not had a problem yet with the key sticking. I called the previous owner and she states that she never had the problem either. She was a 70 year old woman.

The battery is spotless. Actually everything under the hood is spotless. When I removed the battery there was no corrosion at all.

I tried all day on Sunday jiggling the key, moving the shift back and forth making sure that the car is in park and praying that the car will miraculously start. Didn't work. The last time that I got into the car yesterday, there were no chimes. Nothing. I am thinking it is the ignition, that something blew in it the last time that I shut it off. I cant be sure because I had 4 children in the car at the time, (2 are mine and their friends) but I thought when I went to start it on Saturday morning that I heard a pop when I turned the key and then nothing.

My last car was an Olds Aurora that I had for 12 years and believe me I had my share of problems with that car and I have become very familiar with the engine area of the car. I am not afraid to get under the hood and learn how to fix the problem.

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

This must be very discouraging and aggravating for you seeing you just bought it a few weeks ago. It doesn't sound like it was an abused car if you bought it from an older lady. For a 97 with 47K she must not have driven alot.
Is there a fuse block under the hood? if so there are relays inside you might check that if you have not by now.
If the battery and cables are good I wonder if it is inside if the ignition cylinder.
Do you have a remote start on the car? I had one and it f*cked things up and had to take it off.
Post to the other sites and see if someone there might have an idea I will keep looking and ask around.
Hope you guys can figure something out.

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

If you do end up needing some expensive part and you can wait a day or two try Ed Morad he deals in Pontiac parts and has very good prices. Ed will have what you need if he doesn't he will find it. He is very good to work with.
A $1,200.00 part cost me 175.00 delivered.

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-04-2009

Yeah very rarely driven. No remote start. I was thinking some kind of kill switch but found nothing in the car.

I checked the fuses under the hood and am not sure about the big square ones. Do those pull out or twist. Dont want to mess anything up. They say Siemens on them and one is the ign main

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

I think it just pulls out, the ign main could be the problem. I think you could test it or have someone else test it maybe Napa.
I think you would need a multi meter to test it with but I don't know what pins to test so I'm not much help with that.

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

here is another link it might have something there.
ClubGP Message Forum troubleshooting

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-04-2009

Well I have my work cut out for me today. I visited that link yesterday, but did not get a chance to post to it yet. I will work on that this a.m. Being unemployed stinks, but at least I dont have to worry about getting to work now and have plenty of time to work on this project while the kids are at school. LOL

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

Originally Posted by elbowcoffeecup

Well I have my work cut out for me today. I visited that link yesterday, but did not get a chance to post to it yet. I will work on that this a.m. Being unemployed stinks, but at least I dont have to worry about getting to work now and have plenty of time to work on this project while the kids are at school. LOL

Sorry about the job situation that sucks.
I hope that it isn't something major just a relay or something else thats easy once you figure it out.
At least you do have some time to work on it while the kids are at school and they wont be bugging you. You do know something about cars, I know some girls that don't know how to pump gas.....it's sad but true.
Maybe there is a way to bypass that relay and that might give you an idea if the relay is the problem.

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-04-2009

My dad always told me "if you are going to drive you had better learn about taking care of the car."

Well I will keep you updated on the progress. My friend that is coming over used to be a mechanic up in NY. He seems confident that he will be able to rig something up and get it going for me. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for all the advice.

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

k...well let us know.....good luck!!

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-04-2009

Problem has been resolved. Thank you so much to everyone that has helped me with this issue. You guys are all lifesavers. The problem was with the main ignition fuse or relay. Whatever it is called. It was in the fuse box under the hood. It was not in all the way. Pushed it in and the car started without a problem.

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

That's good to hear, good job finding the problem. You must feel so much better now.

**elbowcoffeecup** · 05-04-2009

It feels great to find the problem and have freedom back. Thanks again

**dstout** · 05-04-2009

You're welcome!! There is alot of good information here and if the is your first GP you might have other questions too.
This forum is.....well I think it's a better place than the other forums. You seem to get more answers here instead of smart a$$ remarks.
But anyway good job on fixing your car.
Dave

**palmergg** · 07-27-2009

I am having ongoing issues with Ignition Main fuse (40amp) blowing. It has blown twice in the past month. My mechanic has tested out all the wires fed by this fuse and they all test out fine. Anyone experience similar problems?

BTW, this car was partially submerged and I have replaced BCM and shifter piece in center console along with other seemingly unrelated items.

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