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97lumina
New User
Sep 15, 2014, 11:33 PM
Post #1 of 6
(2048 views)
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Hello,
Recently I've had some issues starting my 1997 Chevy Lumina (about 125K miles on it). I'm not sure of which engine size it is.
Sometimes when I turn the ignition, the electronics (lights, stereo, windows, etc) all function and come on as one would expect, but the engine doesn't turn over. The electronics fire right up but there doesn't seem to be any activity at all under the hood - no clicking, no sound of the engine struggling to turn over, no anything.
Typically, after a few minutes and several attempts to start the car, eventually it will start. When it DOES start, the engine turns over and fires right up nice and smooth.
The issue first happened several weeks ago - it seemed to be a more or less isolated thing. However now I deal with the issue a few times a week (this is my daily commuter car). It seems to be happening more and more as time goes on. It doesn't seem to matter if I've recently driven the car (like on a grocery run) or if I'm starting it in the morning to get to work after it sat all night. I live in central Texas, and lately the weather has been somewhat moderate.
A couple years ago I had the starter replaced - when the starter failed, I remember it was long, miserable death. The engine struggled more and more to turn over as weeks went on until eventually the thing was shot and had to be replaced. This issue is very different as when it starts the engine doesn't struggle at all to turn over. I think my battery's probably OK as the electronics light up with seemingly full power.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 15, 2014, 11:57 PM
Post #2 of 6
(2041 views)
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Re: Issues Starting
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Sedan or van?
First thing is to have the battery tested. Also make sure that your battery connections are clean and tight. Side post batteries are known for leaking acid and causing corrosion on the cables and terminals. If all that checks good, you'll need to make some electrical checks using a volt meter. You'll need to check if there is excessive voltage drops in the battery cables and if you have battery voltage at the starter solenoid on the trigger wire. If all that stuff checks good while the problem is occurring, the starter would be the culprit.
If this has an after market alarm system or remote, that could be messing up causing your issue, so keep that in mind if you don't see power down at the trigger wire.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2014, 2:04 AM
Post #3 of 6
(2037 views)
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Re: Issues Starting
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When this happens, have you tried starting it in neutral?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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97lumina
New User
Sep 16, 2014, 3:35 PM
Post #4 of 6
(2022 views)
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Re: Issues Starting
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Sorry for the omitted details - this is a 4 door sedan. Is is no aftermarket alarm, stereo, or remote equipment installed on the car. The car started the first time today going to work, and again the first time leaving work. I'll next time the car doesn't start on the first go (which shouldn't be more than a day or two at the current rate), I'll try starting it from neutral to see what might happen. Additionally, I'm about to check my battery and terminals for any obvious signs of corrosion, leakage or excessive buildup and I'll keep you posted.
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97lumina
New User
Sep 17, 2014, 3:13 PM
Post #5 of 6
(1999 views)
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Re: Issues Starting
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So it turns out I can't shift gears when the engine isn't running, so I don't have the option of trying to start the car in neutral. But I did notice something today I hadn't previously... when I tried starting my car this afternoon (again it took a while and many attempts), I noticed that sometimes "security" light on my dash was blinking - other times it wasn't. When if DID finally start today (and once it started, it roared to life like there hadn't been a problem at all), the "security" light was on the whole driver home. This I'd never noticed before.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 17, 2014, 3:30 PM
Post #6 of 6
(1998 views)
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Re: Issues Starting
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OK, first you can shift it to neutral with the engine off. The key just has to be on and the brake pedal pushed.
If you are getting a flashing security light, then the immobilizer is locking you out. You are probably having a problem with the key sensor in the ignition switch. The small wires tend to break also.
You have a Passkey system
PASSKEY SENSOR BYPASS
The most common failure in these is the sensor in the ignition lock that reads the key pellet. That would mean replacing the ignition lock with a sensor included.
That sensor can be bypassed. You would need a digital ohmeter to measure the resistance of the pellet in the key. Now go to Radio Shack and buy a resister of the exact same value as the key pellet. Go to the base of the steering column and locate the two thin white wires that go up to the sensor. Cut the two wires and solder the resister between the two ends coming from the harness. This will permanently bypass the sensor but not the rest of the system.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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