Thread: lock cylinder only or wiring harness as well?

i'm not sure what kinds of key words to put in the search bar for this problem. checked ignition. car wont start is too general.

anyway, i think something is up with the ignition. i don't know if i need to replace the lock cylinder in the steering wheel only or if there is issue with wiring/wiring harness. here is the problem:

it culminated thursday night when i tried to start the car and it was totally dead. BUT, the key got stuck in the ignition and would not turn back to the off position. i got it out by pushing the release in the steering column.

what it has been doing......the car has been randomly resetting itself as though i have disconnected the battery. but i haven't. the radio starts over, loses all of its programmed info (i stopped messing with it at this point), and all of those other electronic issues like pcm i guess is being wiped clean every time that happens. have to give it a good amount of gas to start it whenever the "reset" happens.

the other day while i was driving it was as though the battery was disconnected while i was driving. the car didn't die but the all of the lights, stereo, etc. quit for a second and then came back on.

so i'm thinking its something to do with the ignition. battery is fine. it never needs jumped. i was thinking bad battery at first because of the hard to start but over the last few weeks its been ruled out since i don't have to jump it.

i was ready to buy the lock cylinder but then i got to thinking maybe its not that but wiring harness or something. not sure. the reason i thought it was the cylinder itself is because the key got stuck in the ignition. not sure how they work together so i'm checking before i repair the wrong part.

thanks

id start with the battery terminals, and the grounds. check the pos cable on the starter too.

sounds like its loosing power. battery cables can just go bad over time too.

yeah i thought along those lines as well but it wont even begin to try to turn over. no lights come on at all. no sound. like a totally dead battery....but the key got stuck in the ignition and would not go to the off position nor could i pull it out. i've never had that problem with a dead battery. can that be caused by just no power?

if the battery is dead yes, or the cars got no power the key gets stuck at on.

when the key gets stuck try to beep the horn, if it dont work the batterys not giving power for one reason or another.

while googling the replacement procedure i came across a person that has a guide. he says in his case it was determined the ignition switch was bad because the blower motor was not operating correctly. i too have intermittenly had this problem. sometimes it won't blow any air at all. turning the dial back and forth sometimes got it to work. other times i had to shut the car off and restart it.

ahhhh $^*#ing baS&ard its the battery connection. it was dead for 2 days and would do nothing. went out and wiggled the positive terminal and viola. feel like total idiot. stupid stuck key got me all messed up.

that would be the ignition harness then. heres a how to http://www.sparkys-answers.com/2009/09/2002-pontiac-grand-prix-changing.html

Originally Posted by Shiftingshaddow

ahhhh $^*#ing baS&ard its the battery connection. it was dead for 2 days and would do nothing. went out and wiggled the positive terminal and viola. feel like total idiot. stupid stuck key got me all messed up.

that will do it too lol clean and make em nice and snug. dont over tighten them, the battery side threads are lead and can strip out if you over do it.

they probably are stripped. it has an aftermarket post bolt that is really loose. at this point when you tighten too tightly it falls out. that's just hand tightening it. i'll try to replace just that first and hope its that, otherwise new battery.

in my defense, it was my initial suspect the key getting stuck had not happened once until thursday night after 30 times of it acting up in the last couple weeks. i had already tried to get that connection to hold better, thought it was dealt with but its just totally shot now.

they sell a mesh at the parts store you put over the threads of the bolt and then screw it in.

or you can try tin foil folded up and wrapped around the threads. ive done that trick myself in the past. once again, only snug or the foil will fail.

oh sweet! a cheapo redneck way to fix something. i'll try it for sure. thanks man