No Ignition
 

Re: '95 Buick LeSabre 3.8L Limited.
Greetings. In the past and maybe 2-3 times, I get in the car and turn on the iginition and nothing happens, so I ran the gear shift back and forth and back into park again and it started. Lately, it happened a couple of times and now I can't get it to turn over at all. The battery is good and when I put the headlights on and turn the key to start, the lights do not dim. Thinking that it is the neutral switch on the trans, I replaced it and I still have the same thing, nice bright lights, loud radio, you name it, but there is no power going to the strarter. Help and regards. Bob

hi Bob,
Might be a good idea to check out the ignition switch itself.

Thanks for the reply Hanky. I thought about that, , but when I put the key in and go to the first click, everthing lights up and the security light is blinking and they when I put more pressure as one would do to start the car, the brake light comes on. Could the switch still be bad and how would I get at it to check it? Take the steering wheel apart? Thanks, Bob

The switch part you want to check/replace is located on the lower part of the steering column under the dash.

Can you give me some idea of what it looks like and does it work off of the action of the shift liver?

Hanky, just forgot to tell you that I did see a black device which looks like it has somekind of sliding bar on it with teeth or serations. The bar appears to slide thru the divice as if to push until contact is made with something.

If you remove the driver's side lower dash panel and follow the steering column down , on the right side you will see a block with a plug and wires coming out of the plug. That should be the switch assy. It is usually held with 2 small screws/bolts and slips over a rod that is activated by the key tumbler and the inside of the block has the contacts that make the circuits for ign on, off, start and accessory. Those contacts wear and sometimes don't complete the circuit.
The switch is usually with slots so it's position is adjustable. That is checked in neutral and drive where when properly adjusted the vehicle will start in park or neutral only. Should not activate starter in drive.

Hanky,
I'm assuming by lower dash panel, you mean dash panel proper that runs from the left side past he center and not that black part that holds the fuse block

I'm referring to the cardboard type material that is right above the brake pedal.

Yes, I have that off but I don't see anything on the right side of the steering column. By right side, do mean sitting in the driver's seat of or if you are outside the vehicle and looing at it from the front end.

Right side is the passenger side.

Hi Hanky. It's a new day. I went on Ebay yesterday a spotted this picture of an Ignition Starter Switch. It's black and one on view it shows a slotted hole in the center and is flange like mounting with two holes (they don't look adjustable). The other view which looks like a side view shows a six bladed male connection. Could this be the unit? Bob

Sounds like you found it !

Not yet. Now that I know what it looks like I have to find it on the car. Here I go.

The ignition switch and dimmer switch are mounted together. If you watch what activates what , you should be able to tell which is which.
MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL TRIPPING OF THE SIR (SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM) ___AIR BAGS

Hanky thanks for your help. T he problem with my car turned out to be security related. Apparently, there is a broken wire (security circ.) from the cylinder lock and the signal could't be sent to the module when the key with the resistor on it was inserted in the ignition. I basically stumbled on it when the security light was blinking and then I referred to my schematic and I found the wires. There are two white wires within a single orange jacket and what I did was to cut that in half and apply a resistor of same value as the resistance on my key. Of course, there is no security with the car and maybe if I'm lucky, somebody will steal it. (LOL)The other thing that I found out was that the ignition switch on the steering column is at about 11'oclock. To remove/replace that, you have to remove the upper bracket (and maybe the lower bracket too). I'm glad I didn't get to that point. Anyhow, I wanted to pass all of this on to you in case another guy/gal, has the same problem with their '95 LeSabre. Thanks again. Bob

Glad you found the problem and solution. Thanks for sharing the solution with us.

As far as I'm concerned, they should put a Hanky in every Buick.

I think they did and it's called Kleenex to help wipe away the tears from hanky's work !!

It is possible ,but not likely.
Depending on how long the engine runs before it quits could point to a fuel system problem or an ignition system problem , not necessarily the coil(s).

hanky I agree with your comments....