Car won't start

[Whitecrystal1]

I was trying to leave work tonight but the 95 won't start. Battery is strong and so are the lights, voltage meter shows 12v. Funny thing is when the key is turned to run or start the reverse lights are lite?? When turned to start it does not crank, but I can hear a rely click (one click) in the maxi fuse center everytime I turn the key to start. fyi, I tried to start it in park and in neutral but neither did anything different and the reverse lights are lite either way.

It's around 19degs and I finally decided to call a tow truck. It looks like it's gonna cost me around 175 to get it home I didn't realize 32 miles would cost that much At least I'll get 100 back from my auto insurance.

Any idea what I need to check?

[bill buttermore]

The fact that the back-up lights are on, and that the starter will not spin make me wonder if the problem is that the shifter connection to the the neutral safety switch is out of adjustment.

Can you verify that the click is NOT coming from the starter solenoid? If the click is at the starter, then you need a new solenoid or starter.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with this adjustment but I know others here do. Meanwhile, I can look it up in my FSM for you.

.....a quick look suggests that possibly the park/neutral position switch may be broken or the cable to it broken or out of adjustment.

[Whitecrystal1]

The click is from a rely in the maxi fuse panel. I had my finger on it as it was doing it. It only clicks once when the ignition is turned to start. That is the only noise heard under the hood.

Would the neutral safety switch cause the back up lights to come on?

[bill buttermore]

I don't know. But it seems like it could be related. There is a procedure for diagnosing "starter solenoid does not click and engine does not crank." I'll scan it and post it for you....

[Whitecrystal1]

Thanks! That would be great and would help test to see it this is starter related or not.

Do you or does anyone else have any idea where and how the reverse circuit connects to the tranny to turn them on when shifting into reverse?

Tow bill was $160

[bill buttermore]

My photo hosting service, photobucket is currently down for site maintenance. I'll try to post it through another....

Meanwhile, yeah, the backup lights work through the park/neutral position switch. So does the feature that prevents you from starting in any gear but P or N. So, if the switch is stuck in R, the backup lights stay on and the car won't start.

Why don't you take a look at the switch and see if it is loose or broken? It sits on top of the transmission and is moved by the shift cable from the console. There is a procedure for aligning the switch if it has to be removed. It really sounds to me like your switch is loose or broken.

[Whitecrystal1]

I just wasn't really thinking at the time. I will try to get a look at it tomorrow and post up what I find. Do you know if this procedure is in the Techinfo or just an old thread. I'm going to look to try and find this. Thanks

[bill buttermore]

Here is the FSM page scan (95FSM)
Connector 116 is the connector in the engine compartment coming from the switch on top of the trans.

[bill buttermore]

Adjustment procedure for Park/Neutral Position (pnp) switch

Place transaxle shifter assembly in the Neutral notch in detent plate.
(I think they mean the shaft on the trans, not the console shifter.))
Loosen pnp switch attachment screws.
(On top of the trans)
Rotate the pnp switch on shifter assembly to align service adjustment slots.
Insert a 3/32" drill bit into the service slot.
Tighten the screws to 20 ft-lb
Remove the drill bit.

If the pnp switch is good, this will make sure the electrical contacts are where they are supposed to be for start in P&N only and BU lights in R. If, after this adjustment, you still have BU lights on in any other gear than R, you've got a bad pnp switch.

[93RedSled-SSE]

If it will help any, here is a pix of the switch and location, followed by a circuit drawing, that also includes the logic table for the (4) sets of contacts contained in the position switch. As you can see, this also controls Reverse indication to the PCM. This is a 1993.

[bill buttermore]

A good place to start with this would be to open the hood and watch the switch on top of the rear of the transaxle as a helper shifts the trans through the gears. You should be able to see the end of the cable move the trans shift lever through its range of motion around the plastic pnp switch while the switch itself remains stationary. If you don't see the cable moving, the problem is the cable or its adjustment.

[bill buttermore]

Here is the figure from the 95 FSM for adjustment of the pnp switch:

[bill buttermore]

Here is the image of the shift cable....



And how to get to it and adjust it:

[Whitecrystal1]

Thanks Bill and Red I just got done fixing it and it was the PNP switch. Autozone had one in stock for $85 after taxes I am glad to get this one back on the road so fast.

Now to get the dealer to hurry up and fix my white one

[93RedSled-SSE]

Woo Hoo! Yeh, you get Buttermore helping you and you are always headed in the right direction. This was a unique one for sure.

[Whitecrystal1]

Here are some pictures of the inside of the switch

I don't know what this brown stuff is but it was somewhat hard but tacky. It appears that it froze the shift indicator in the reverse position.

[PontiacSE93]

I would check out the starter because if the inter. lights are good that means that the alternative is good. But from the sounds of it the starter is gone and need to be replaced.

[00Beast]

I would check out the starter because if the inter. lights are good that means that the alternative is good. But from the sounds of it the starter is gone and need to be replaced.

If you look at the green arrow, that means the thread topic has been fixed. Also, if you read the thread, you would have seen that he fixed the issue. Not trying to be rude, just informing you.