Weird issue with my 1996 Trans Am, no power
12-16-2014, 07:11 AM
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Weird issue with my 1996 Trans Am, no power Hey guys, I have a 1996 Trans AM WS-6
I have been looking around for a bit and I can't find a direct answer. This issue just started happening to me on Saturday. When I put my key in, the dash lights flicker on and off, sometimes they dont go on and I have no power to anything. Other times it runs fine, this morning I put my key in, nothing happen for a bit. I came back to it 15 minutes later, everything worked fine. I don't know, thought it could be my key, tried my spare and it still does it. Weird thing is that, it had never done this until Saturday, after I detailed it. I had used a vacuum which runs off the cigarette lighter, I dont know if this effected something.
This is my introduction thread, by the way:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/introduct...l#post18574710
I have been looking around for a bit and I can't find a direct answer. This issue just started happening to me on Saturday. When I put my key in, the dash lights flicker on and off, sometimes they dont go on and I have no power to anything. Other times it runs fine, this morning I put my key in, nothing happen for a bit. I came back to it 15 minutes later, everything worked fine. I don't know, thought it could be my key, tried my spare and it still does it. Weird thing is that, it had never done this until Saturday, after I detailed it. I had used a vacuum which runs off the cigarette lighter, I dont know if this effected something.
This is my introduction thread, by the way:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/introduct...l#post18574710
12-16-2014, 08:05 AM
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I would check the battery terminals, you may have some corrosion there or on the wire ends. Or it maybe time for a new battery all together, but i would start with the cables since it seems to be intermittent.
I had a similar issue when i put a stereo in my firebird, one of the main leads going into the positive terminal was not connected as well as the others and in switched ignition was fine but when i tried to start it all you could hear was relays clicking. By the time i figured it out that particular cable had corroded back into the rubber shielding. Ended up doing the big 3 mod after that and never looked back
I had a similar issue when i put a stereo in my firebird, one of the main leads going into the positive terminal was not connected as well as the others and in switched ignition was fine but when i tried to start it all you could hear was relays clicking. By the time i figured it out that particular cable had corroded back into the rubber shielding. Ended up doing the big 3 mod after that and never looked back
12-16-2014, 08:39 AM
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I would check the battery terminals, you may have some corrosion there or on the wire ends. Or it maybe time for a new battery all together, but i would start with the cables since it seems to be intermittent.
I had a similar issue when i put a stereo in my firebird, one of the main leads going into the positive terminal was not connected as well as the others and in switched ignition was fine but when i tried to start it all you could hear was relays clicking. By the time i figured it out that particular cable had corroded back into the rubber shielding. Ended up doing the big 3 mod after that and never looked back
I had a similar issue when i put a stereo in my firebird, one of the main leads going into the positive terminal was not connected as well as the others and in switched ignition was fine but when i tried to start it all you could hear was relays clicking. By the time i figured it out that particular cable had corroded back into the rubber shielding. Ended up doing the big 3 mod after that and never looked back
12-16-2014, 09:48 AM
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12-17-2014, 01:42 AM
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Check the power dist. block as well (red box on passenger fender). The ignition switch is notorious for failing especially since these cars are older. You need to save this page on your favorites if you haven't already: www.shbox.com
Here's a link from that page describing your possible problem:
http://shbox.com/ignsw/ign_switch_repl.html
Here's a link from that page describing your possible problem:
http://shbox.com/ignsw/ign_switch_repl.html
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12-17-2014, 05:54 AM
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Haha thanks for the greeting! I have my introduction above, check out my ride!
Thanks for the information, I did check the red box, no corrosion and it looked fine. I did hear about the ingnition being an issue, my battery terminals were very very slightly loose, I tighten it more. Crossing my fingers it was something dumb, everything has been ok since then.
Check the power dist. block as well (red box on passenger fender). The ignition switch is notorious for failing especially since these cars are older. You need to save this page on your favorites if you haven't already: www.shbox.com
Here's a link from that page describing your possible problem.
http://shbox.com/ignsw/ign_switch_repl.html
Here's a link from that page describing your possible problem.
http://shbox.com/ignsw/ign_switch_repl.html
12-24-2014, 01:01 PM
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Sounds like an ignition switch, I bought my car for 800$ cause the owner thought it was the ECU or ignition switch, I tried replacing the cheaper, easier part first, being the ignition switch. It fired up after I replaced it. Look for burnt dark brownish marks on the ignition switch when you take it out. Fairly simple task, be ready for some PITA connectors to undo. I recommend going to Oreilys and getting the Delco brand switch, only 3$ more than knock off brand.