Thread: 1997 Grand Prix GT acting very strange and not running.. Most of the time

So today after going to the bank, I was taking my gf to work when my car just died in the middle of an intersection. I stopped the car, and tried to start it back up, it started fine, and ran fine for about another 5 mins, Then died again. This time it wouldn't start back up. After waiting about 15 min,. it started for about 20 seconds with me having to feather the gas to keep it running, it was running awful, missing really bad, and the tach was acting very strange. It would drop to 0, then come back up again, then drop again. After about 20 seconds the car died again. I had it towed home but it was dark by the time I got it home, so I haven't got to check into it much yet. However I went outside to see if it would start and When I turned the ignition foward (to the on position, not cranking) sometimes the dash lights and headlights would come on, and sometimes they would not. If the headlights and dash lights came on, it would start and run fine. If when I turned the ignition foward and the lights didn't come on, it would just crank and not fire... Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.

Crank sensor is a good possibility. Mine randomly ate an ignition switch too. No warning...just no power to anything unless I jiggled the switch just right.

Thanks for the reply's so far guys, keep them coming. My only question would be can the crank sensor affect the lights? As I posted when I turn the car to the on position, if the dash and headlights come on, it will start and run fine, if they do not come on (which is about 3/4 of the times I try) The car will just crank and not start. It seems like an electrical problem to me. but that is just a guess of coarse. If I knew the problem for sure I wouldn't be asking. lol

Check the connections at the battery. Use a brush to clean them off and make sure they are tight. Seems stupid but most people don't think about it.

Ok, I will check around the battery tomorrow. If it is a ground problem, I know to check the main ground going from the battery to the block, what other grounds should I be checking? not sure where the others are.

Originally Posted by Bluedogge

Ok, I will check around the battery tomorrow. If it is a ground problem, I know to check the main ground going from the battery to the block, what other grounds should I be checking? not sure where the others are.

The coil pack bracket ground to the front head.

OR take the boots off one pack at a time and turn the car over to see if it arcs. If it does then the ground should be ok but I would still check it.