95 grand prix , no start , then does ?!?!

[kuz816]

I have been killing myself trying to find an answer , so i figured i would come to the guru's for some help .

car:
95 grand prix SE , 3100

problem:
started about a year and a half ago having the problems . When i turn the ignition on , all lights come on , fuel pump starts , everything is fine until i turn the key . Once i turn the key , all i get is a single click , sometimes . Sometimes it fires right up like there is no problem whatsoever . Other times i have to turn the key several times to get it to finally turn over . This has been getting worse lately and am afraid of being stranded somewhere when it finally decides not to start.

replaced items:
starter , battery , neutral/park switch , new key (thinking it might have been worn resistor pellet but security light does not flash)

other known odd problems:
reverse lights do not work , trunk release in glove box doesn't work

thinking of putting in a switch to the starter from the battery to see if that will work , but figured i would come here first.
any help would be much appreciated !!

[ntreftz]

check these things in this order
1-first check the battery terminals.
2-trace all wires that go to the main power/ fuse box and check for damage.
3-have someone try to start it while feeling/listening to each of the ignition relays to make sure they working
4-get back on GPF and tell the results

[kuz816]

1- cleaned them when i replaced the battery , although they were not bad
2- already traced as far as i could find . only info i can give is voltage on the starter fuse in the inside fuse panel gives me varying voltage from 5v up ... seems to start after hitting 9v
3- never heard of said starter relay on this beast , where would it be located ? lol
4- here I is

[ntreftz]

1- were they tight?
2- it should be 12v no matter where you really read it
3- fuse box- can't quite remember where if its labeled it will usually be ignition 1 or 2
4- hello welcome back lol

[kuz816]

1- yup they were
2-was thinking this , maybe the mystery relays
3- engine compartment drivers side block has ign 1 and ign 2 fuse (which are both good) which appears to run through firewall... when it doesn't start i do hear a click from inside behind center dash area ... hmmm

i forsee tearing the dash apart tomorrow morning when i get off work lol

[ntreftz]

check for the relay panel on the passenger side in the between the dash and door

[Crispykit]

Believe it or not I had the very same situation. Took it in to my mechanic (once I got it started) and he checked all the connections and they all seemed fine. Went to work and after work same deal-wouldn't start. Had one of the boys give me a boost and that didn't work either-but I noticed the dash lights did not come on, while he was boosting? Let it sit for awhile and then tried but now there was no power at all when I turned the key. Buddy put a wrench to the positive battery cable and boom instant power. Could not believe the terminal was that bad, as it looked good with very little corrosion. Drove it home and cleaned up the terminal (cold and dark out) and called it a day. About three months later the same thing happened again. I was off that day, so I put a wrench to it and managed to make a connection and backed it into the garage (first time was winter and now was summer). I removed the terminal and the red boot that protects the terminal to see how much corrosion there was buried. Really not that much. Super cleaned the copper cable end by dunking in vinegar and salt solution (restores to original condition) and contact cleaner. Cleaned the both negative and positive cable terminals (side mounts are not my favorites) and wire brushed the contact surfaces on the battery and the terminal bolts. Put the red boot back on (that was a bit of a struggle, but with some silicone spray and Heat Gun I finally got it re-assembled) bolted it up and sealed with Dielectric grease.
Has been rock solid last 4 months.

[kuz816]

Well when I get home in a few hours I will try to track down this relay, and then to recheck and reclean terminals and grounds....wish me luck and I will update later

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[ntreftz]

RE-check and clean first

[kuz816]

OK so I still can't find the relay lol.... took the ground off and cleaned the poo out of both ends , and guess what....still messes up but seems better. So I went to the getting place and ordered a new ground cable to see if the cable itself is just shot.

It will be in Saturday so I will let y'all know how it goes ....thanks for the help so far

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[kuz816]

Update:

Got the ground cable replaced and still the same. Ordered a new positive cable and hoping that works...will keep you guys updated

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[ntreftz]

Sounds good

[kuz816]

Found the problem I think...by pure luck no less . Fuse block under the hood on drivers side got broke somehow. Needless to say until I can find one I got a bunch of jumpers going right now, and it has worked so far !!

Thanks for all the help guys and I will keep ya posted!!

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