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1999 Pontiac Sunfire, no power to ignition (won't start)

Tiny
CSA1
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 166,000 MILES
Was driving down the road, car had a rapid surge, then all dash gauges & instruments went dead. Car has no electrical power except for door buzzer & power locks. Headlights, dash & dome lights do work. Changed ignition switch with new one, no change
Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:08 PM

38 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Have you had the battery tested?Made sure the battery cables are clean and tight?Also do you have a multimeter or test light to do some testing?Also have you checked all the fuses?
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:13 PM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Brand new battery & cables, all fuses checked good, have both multimeter & test light. Acts like an ignition switch gone bad, but just replaced it, kinda stumped
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:17 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Alright at the ignition switch there will be a big red wire going to it see if it has battery voltage going to it?Let me know what you find.
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:22 PM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Battery holding 12.87 volts. Tested both red wires going to ignition switch. Grounding to body, I got.01 volts to both wires
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Yeah both wires should have battery voltage the wires are feed by the IGN 50 amp fuse in the under hood fuse left front of the engine compartment. See if you have power to both sides of that fuse it should have power at all times. Let me know what you find.
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:39 PM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Ok, with ignition switch in off position, no power at fuse. In on position 12.87 volts
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:48 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Are you sure its the right fuse?That fuse is feed straight from the battery to fuse then thru the fuse and feeds the B and C terminals at you ignition switch.
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:56 PM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Positive. Fuse box under hood, right side if facing engine. IGN fuse red, 50 amp in a fuse box that looks like a tetris piece right?
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 8:59 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
I dont know about a tetris piece lol but it will be the larger maxi fuse. Unplug the ignition switch and see if both sides of that fuse has power?
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 9:11 PM
Tiny
CSA1
  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Yes, both wires going to switch have 12+ volts
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 9:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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So now both red wires to the ignition switch has power?With the ignition switch plugged in or not plughed in?
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 9:42 PM
Tiny
CSA1
  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
With switch unpluged, using multi meter on 20v setting, both red wires that plug into switch have 12+volts. Thinking We may have gotten a bad new switch, just went and got another 1. No luck, same thing, no power to dash or ignition ( turn switch, nadda comes on )
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 9:55 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Alright with everything plugged in see if the yellow wire at the ignition switch has battery voltage in the start position?
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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 10:59 PM
Tiny
CSA1
  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Sorry for delay in answer. Anyway, with switch plugged in, turning it to start position, multimeter set on 20v, red lead on big yellow wire black lead grounded to car chassis, it shows.28 volts
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 2:15 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Thats crazy with the key off and the switch plugged in what is the voltage reading to the red wires?
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 2:34 AM
Tiny
CSA1
  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Voltage on red wired with switch on & plugged in is.1, I dont understand it either. Also, the IGN fuse in the fuse box under the hood, you measure across the top of the fuse, voltage is only.4 something ( multimeter set at 20V) pull fuse out, stick multi meter probe in each socket, measures 12.87, but the fuse ohms out as good. Im completely lost as to what the heck is causing that
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 3:32 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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I was asking for the voltage with the switch plugged in and the switch in the off position. Because nothing should be connected thru the switch in that position.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 3:39 AM
Tiny
CSA1
  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Ahh, ok, let me try that then
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 4:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Alright let me know.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 4:39 AM
Tiny
CSA1
  • MEMBER
  • 78 POSTS
Ok, with switch in off position, the big yellow wire has zero volts. Both of the red wires have 1.78 volts each
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 4:42 AM

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