So for the last couple days I have had a really hard time getting my car to start, it started and runs fine. Today however when I brought it in to get a new windshield it decided it was no longer gonna start. Car in question is a 1996 GSR. I already checked all the normal suspects for this..... all the fuses are fine, I swapped the main relay with one of a working car although it came out of a OBD1 LS not sure that makes a difference. I also swapped spark plug wires with working units, and also swapped distributors with no change in anything. What happens is I turn the key to the on position and no lights come on in my cluster, only when I am about to start the car do they come on and the car attempts to start and stays alive for about 1 sec and shuts off. Any ideas or suggestions? I am gonna swap the ECU tomorrow to check that.

 

bump for help.....

 

sounds like a battery issue. could be a bad connection to the battery...maybe alternator? check all connections, grounds etc.

 

Not alternator, alternator isn't too old, plus the car starts and shuts off immediately. I checked all my grounds and they were good. I will double check them in the morning.

 

Wow 51 views.... only one person has an idea

 

Sounds like a ECU problem, try the good ECU see if it helps.. tough question to answer man. Goodluck!

 

i think it could be your fuel pump cause my car does that when i put gas in it. ill start it and then it will die a sec later, then i keep starting it and then it starts up fine after that, or it could also be your map or tps sensor maybe

 

Tried the ECU today.... didn't change a thing. I am running out of things to try.

 

I'll try map and tps sensor tomorrow... I don't think it's either one of those either.

 

maybe the shop killed your battery or something, wires in the underhood fusebox could be loose too.

 

Sounds fuel pump related...

 

when is the last time you changed your fuel filter? could be clogged if not its your fuel pump

 

Dont forget he also said this " I turn the key to the on position and no lights come on in my cluster". We've checked all fuses, swapped main relays, swapped ECU's, dizzys, plug wires.

I have been helping John at his house trying to figure this out. We've almost canceled out all of the electrical suspects, besides a few little area's we need to try.

 

Maybe 15K back.... not really a long time ago, I have two cars to drive so they split daily duties

 

My car didn't go to a shop....... I had my battery tender on it all day just for grins and the battery keeps trying its best to start the car but it shuts off immediately after firing.

 

What is the voltage on your battery?
Did you try jump starting it?

 

Tried jumping just for grins, the battery has a full charge.... so lets not talk about battery. It's safe to say its not the battery. I don't know what the voltage is.

 

ok..The first sign of problem is that there is no lights on the cluster at "on" position. But there is lights at the "start" position. It starts because everything is powered up at "start." It shuts of afterwards because all has LOST power at the "on" position. Not good.
Get it? Nothing is getting power on the "on" position maybe because there is a break in the "on" position circuit. Maybe the ignition switch is bad. Do a continuity test at the switch. Try that and see if that works. You'll have to find someone handy with a volt meter and know electrical cuz that's what it could be.
Note: You can have the ecu disconnected and the gauge cluster should still light up.

Good Luck!

 

Finally something helpful and not the norm.... I'm going to check that tomorrow.

 

Car still not running.

 

So, I assume that you confirmed the the switch is good and power is going in and out. Continuity check done on that circuit to confirm no open on the wires?
When i get the chance I'll take a look at the wiring diagram. It's got to be in that circuit if I understand the problem correctly.

 

No I haven't been able to try that yet, it's been pouring and I don't have a garage, so I am gonna try that as soon as the weather clears up.

 

Ignition switch was the culprit. got it squared away now.