Turn key and nothing

Hi all,
Want to pick your brains for this intermintent problem I have with my ca. Sometimes you go to crank the motor and nothing. Then you can try again and it might crank. If not if you it usually will when you move the the wires under the dash or shake the column. Any ideas?Thanks

 

lose wire?

 

Could be an intermittent problem with the neutral safety switch.

Devon

 

I would start with the battery/connections.o No:
Have you checked anything yet?

 

Ok here is what i can tell you. I was thinking neutral safety issue. I can tell you the previous owner converted the gs 350 auto to a 4 speed and it appears all correct. When I bought the car we had a loose wire on the plug between the column wires and the car under the dash. I cut and soldered it. I have went through most the wiring. I have not check the starter though. A little green at this but can I take out the neutral safety switch and swap it or test it? they expensive? available? Thanks for the help guys.

 

What has to be done to start the car?

does the clutch have to be pushed in? Tranny in neutral? Check all of those switches.

Could also be the ignition switch. Next time it does it, keep the key in start position and move things individually to see what might be the issue.

On Tyler's GN, sometimes the shift handle has to be moved a little to get it to start.

 

Check battery connections. Loose?

Scott

 

Ignition switch on top of the column is the problem.....the copper bars have carbon build up on them and this causes intermittent starting...swap out a new ignition switch.....tilt columns use a different switch than non-tilt.

 

THanks for all the great input. How hard is it to replace the ignition switch?

 

Just two screws hold the ignition switch in place.....should take all of 5 mins to swap it out.

 

Took about 15 minutes and hopefully will fix it. The one in the car was looks pretty old and was a delco remy...will find out it that was it soon...Thanks again!

 

Was it the ignition switch? I have a similar problem. I have a starter by-pass or bump switch installed. If I cannot start the car with the key, I can start it with the bump switch. After starting it with the bump switch, I can then start it with the key a few times until the process starts all over.o No:

 

Hi Cliff,
It is tough to say so far since I changed it out when my car was at the body shop and was not getting started. Since I brought it home I have the alternator off for repair. It has not acted up yet which is a good sign, but im not positive either. The car maybe has been started 6 times without it happening. Thanks Gary

 

Cliff,
Sounds like your ignition switch contacts are carbon fouled....get a new ignition switch and you should be fine.

 

Thanks for the replies.

 

Just to follow up it appears George was right on and I have not had the issue since replacing the switch! Thanks George:TU:

 

Mine does the same thing but only when it's hot. It will start everytime when it's been sitting in the garage but after I drive it and it warms up, it won't. Also, if I just pull the car outside and it sits in the sun for awhile it won't start. I, too, have a bump switch under the hood so it's not really a problem, just embarassing. I bought a new ignition switch but it turned out to be the wrong one so I've got to get the correct one, I've just been too busy lately to do anything with my own car