i got a 1995 monte carlo z34. when i go to start it, i turn the key over and it wont turn over. all the ligths come on the dash like normal. it just wont turn over to start the car. i was told that there is a relay in the ignition for the ignition key. it has one of those keys with the black squares in them. could that be bad? how can i fix the or even by-pass it? thanks for any help

 

first we need a little more info as in. did you check the battery first as in getting a ride to the parts store to test it and did you make sure the conectors are clean to the battery. it is netorius for side mount batterys to have corosion to prevent start up but let enough power to go threw to light up the dash. after that check the relay for the starter one or two relays are the same so you can swap them to see if the relay went bad for the starter

 

i did try to jump start it. i did not take the battery to be tested. can you tell me where the relays are for the starter. can i find pics on the web some where to show me how to do this?

 

It is most likely the ignition switch (VATS) failing. You can bypass it completely, but I'm not sure how to do that. However, I tested the resistance of the little "chip" in my key, then added two resistors under the dash, and my car fires up perfect now - except once in a while it won't start for 5 minutes, then it will start right up after that.

 

where is this located?

 

Actually I just did a search on MyMonte.com, you posted this same problem back in May, and I explained it and gave you a picture. Anyway, on the underside of the dash, driver's side. Take out the screws and plastic pop screws or whatever's there. Here is the same picture I posted over there.

 

thank you nighthawk. i had been looking for that web site. new comp. and i lost all the info i had saved for this and i am back at it again. this time, it won't start at all so i got to get it fixed. thanks again for the pic.

ok, i went radio shack. my key read a #5 (1.130 ohm reading) so i get the resisters and all the have were 1k ohm and 1.5k ohm. i went ahead and got both. now, neither one match the reading. are these the right ones or do i need something else?

 

Make sure to check your starter, some days i will try to start my 98 monte and it doesnt start. All i do is bang on the starter and it turns over.

 

if i replace the entire ignition lock, will this fix this problem with out bypassing?

 

If you wanted to bypass it, you would need the closest resistance that's above the 1.130 reading, so a single 1.5 resistor would be closest. However, yes, replacing the ignition switch would fix the problem - but a new ignition switch is ~$70 I believe, and then you need new keys as well.

Oh, and FWIW - mine has two resistors on it because my key read somewhere between 5 and 6 ohms, and all that I could find at teh Radiowhack was a 5 ohm and 1 ohm. Good luck with getting it straightened out.