To Start Or Not To Start.

Hello gentlemen. My 1993 Storm seems to have its own mind these past several weeks so your expertise is GREATLY appreciated. This is long, so, please bear with me.


~ BACKGROUND ~
1993 GEO STORM / AUTOMATIC / 136,000 + MILE /
4-CYL / 1.6 LITER / SINGLE EXHAUST

~ SCENARIO ~
I place my key in the ignition to start the engine and the usual and common (warning) beeping sound alerts me to close my door, etc. (Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep) then stops.

Turn the key to its 1st position and the lights to the dash and clock radio comes on.

Turn the key to its 2nd position and the beeping sound alerts me again (Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep) then stops

Turn the key to its 3rd (final) position and nothing. All you hear is one click coming from the engine.

In other words, per every (key) turn from the 2nd to the 3rd is how many clicks I get. If I do it continuously and quickly (back and forth, back and forth from 2 to 3, 2 to 3, visa-versa); almost sounds as if you're flicking your disposable (BIC) lighter when it won't stay lit.

It used to start from time-to-time because some guy told me he had the same problem and his mechanic told him to "keep turning the key's ignition back and forth - quickly because the spark is not catching". Took his advice and voila! Presto! Continued to do so until I noticed myself doing more frequently every time I started the engine. Slowly realizing the more I do this, the longer it took to start it.

Although now, I'm getting more of the key turning back-and-forth to rarely getting it to start to nothing at all (other than the clicks, of course which is still there). Everything is the same: dashboard lights, clock, etc.

To double check (since I have no type of tester of any sort), I checked the fuse located under the driver's side and noticed a "white-colored wire" connected to the other set of fuse (same location but different grouping). I followed it to show me where it leads and the other end seemed to have been (accidentally) cut; not pulled becuase wouldn't the wire show? Anyway, I covered it with electrical tape because I don't know if this is connected to something. When I placed the wire in harms way, I tried the steps above yet again, and the engine started. But it only started and then stopped because I kept going back-and-forth hence not "catching" it on time for me to stop doing the back-and-forth key dance. I paused for a few minutes and tried again, and back to the same drawing board!

~ QUESTION ~
Q: Any "How to" repair manuals with sample photos or diagram for a woman you can suggest?


Thank you soooo much for your time.