Broken car

Remi79
Remi79 Posts: 346 Member
edited December 2024 in Chit-Chat
Does anybody know anything about cars? I have a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix. When you turn the key, only the radio and dash lights turn on. The doors lock, which they are not supposed to lock until I put the car in drive. We just changed the battery, that was not it.
It's almost like the car doesn't know it's in park or something.
Any suggestions will be appreciated, thanks!

Replies

  • mtkatom54
    mtkatom54 Posts: 1
    Since you just changed the battery, my guess is that the ground wire isn't fully secure. Might as well confirm that both ground and positive are secured properly.

    Hope this helps!
  • PapaverSomniferum
    PapaverSomniferum Posts: 2,670 Member
    Hey, I have a 2001 grand prix! I paid $500 for it, cash. It's held together by duct tape. Sometimes it won't start, so I hit the starter with a wrench that I keep in the glove box. That usually does the trick.

    Also, I know nothing about cars.
  • SavCal71
    SavCal71 Posts: 350 Member
    Alternator or starter.
  • the_journeyman
    the_journeyman Posts: 1,877 Member
    There are switches/sensors that tell the car when it's in D or some sense when it's simply NOT in Park. It will not allow you to attempt to start the car AND trips the lock door lock. Have you checked to see if you have a bad or disconnected sensor for the gear selector?

    JM
  • Remi79
    Remi79 Posts: 346 Member
    There are switches/sensors that tell the car when it's in D or some sense when it's simply NOT in Park. It will not allow you to attempt to start the car AND trips the lock door lock. Have you checked to see if you have a bad or disconnected sensor for the gear selector?

    JM

    Where is the sensor for that?
  • darrell62
    darrell62 Posts: 40
    See if the car will start in "N" nuetral.
    Automatic transmissions are equiped with a safety interlock to prevent you from starting the engine while the car is in Drive or Reverse.
    If this interlock switch is bad the radio, lights, etc will work but car will not start.
  • Remi79
    Remi79 Posts: 346 Member
    Doesn't start in Neutral either. We tried every gear, it doesn't work.
  • the_journeyman
    the_journeyman Posts: 1,877 Member
    There are switches/sensors that tell the car when it's in D or some sense when it's simply NOT in Park. It will not allow you to attempt to start the car AND trips the lock door lock. Have you checked to see if you have a bad or disconnected sensor for the gear selector?

    JM

    Where is the sensor for that?

    No telling. There is a good chance it is right there in the shifting gate, but could be as deep as inside the tranny.

    Most modern cars won't even start in N anymore. They have to be in Park.

    JM
  • Remi79
    Remi79 Posts: 346 Member
    Ok, it starts but doesn't turn over when he tries to jump the starter.
  • spedwife
    spedwife Posts: 25
    This made me chuckle a bit! :-D
  • darrell62
    darrell62 Posts: 40
    Ok, it starts but doesn't turn over when he tries to jump the starter.

    can you explain this a little better, i am not clear on what your saying
  • Remi79
    Remi79 Posts: 346 Member
    It's makes starting noises, but doesn't start all the way.
  • darrell62
    darrell62 Posts: 40
    if its turning over then you've got power through the starter and probably have fire to the plugs, so that leaves fuel source
    hard to diagnose without being there but i would check the Fuse for the fuel pump

    Is it still not cranking with the key and no jump from another battery?
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Locking itself makes me think it's gone into dead mode as if someone tried to steal it. Would depend what alarm was on it in that case.
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    sounds ignition related, if they are jumping the starter and it will crank but wont fire with the key in the run position. Or maybe a relay somewhere.
  • Remi79
    Remi79 Posts: 346 Member
    It only turns on the radio and locks the doors when you turn the key. It's acting like it's not in park yet or something, but the key comes out. The dash lights all come on and the gauges move like they usually do when I turn it on.
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