Intermittent No-Start Condition 96

[ghfun]

On occasion I turn the ignition key and get nothing. No clicking, no crank. The battery and all other electrical is fine. I suspect the key pellet for the VATS system so I switched the keys. Same problem. Eventually and after different amount of time it will crank fine. I still suspect the VATS system. It seems like starting system is disabled. Could be the neutral safety switch but no amount of moving the auto shifter around seems to work.

I am scheduled to go to the shop in the morning, if it will start, but then how can they determin what the problem is.

Any assistance please respond or email ghfun@aol.com.
Thank you!

 

[wwood]

You may wish to check out this discussion.
Starting problem with my '87

 

[CKA_Racing]

Had this issue on my 1991 and 1996. Both turned out to be the starter even though 99.9 percent of people on forums said it was the VATS. Keep in mind the starter checked out fine when tested at auto parts store. Problem is the armature won't move sometimes and sometimes the starter it's sitting on a bad spot. Remember the old hammer to starter trick. That's the way we use to get starters to turn over sometimes. Make sure you install a starter heat shield blanket if you get a new one. Make sure the blanket does not touch any of the connections. You'll get little sparks since the blanket does contain some type of metal. This help prevent heat damage and heat soak.

 

[rrhayden]

I had an identical problem and it turned out to be the key. I took a clean cloth and kleened the pellet and have never experienced the problem again.

 

[ghfun]

Intermittent no start 96 fixed

The problem was the key cylinder had become worn (with only 29K miles) enough to cause the VATS system to not properly and consistently recognize the resistance in the key pellet. $330 at the dealer.

Thank you to all who responded. I found the TSR from another web site that detailed the problem with the key cylinder, but this forum always has so many great people sharing their experiences. I hope my last posts on how I found and fixed the Climate Control only blowing on the floor problem, helped some of you avoid the several hundred dollar mistake.