[chev_jeff_88]

My 97 grandam is acting really funny... I have my key in my hand and I have the negative battery post unhooked and when I go to hook up my negative post my starter tries to start the car... I am really getting angry with it because I have no idea what to do I thought it might have been the starter but I replaced that and it still does it and than I thought maybe my stereo there was a wire touching another wire on my ignition switch but I unhooked my stereo and tried it and it didn't help so I am out of ideas... any help would be great!!

[450donn]

my 97 grandam is acting realy funny ......i have my key in my hand and i have the negative battery post unhooked and when i go to hook up my negative post my starter tries to start the car ... iam realy getting angry with it because i have no idea what to do i thought it might of been the starter but i replaced that and it still does it and than i thought maybe my stereo there was a wire touching another wire on my ignition switch but i unhooked my stereo and tried it and it didnt help so iam out of ideas ... any help would be great!!!

Starter solenoid or bad ignition switch. Pull the switch out and unplug it from the wiring harness to see if it is shorted.

[CaptainRich]

my 97 grandam is acting realy funny ......i have my key in my hand and i have the negative battery post unhooked and when i go to hook up my negative post my starter tries to start the car ... iam realy getting angry with it because i have no idea what to do i thought it might of been the starter but i replaced that and it still does it and than i thought maybe my stereo there was a wire touching another wire on my ignition switch but i unhooked my stereo and tried it and it didnt help so iam out of ideas ... any help would be great!!!

Check with your dealer to see if it is subject to the recall:
PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL

THIS BULLETIN SUPERCEDES RECALL BULLETIN 02008A, ISSUED MAY 2002, PLEASE DISCARD ALL COPIES OF 02008A. THE PARTS TABLE, SERVICE PROCEDURE, AND CLAIM TABLE HAVE BEEN REVISED TO ADDRESS CORROSION OF THE STARTER SOLENOID "S" TERMINAL STUD.
SUBJECT:
02008B - IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS

MODELS:
1995-97 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE
1996-97 BUICK SKYLARK, OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA AND PONTIAC GRAND AM

CONDITION

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1995-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model cars, and 1996-1997 Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Achieva, and Pontiac Grand Am model cars. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts. If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car which could injure occupants of the car or cause damage to adjoining structures.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

It's likely a bad ignition switch. Here's an easy test:

. Disconnect the negative. Battery cable.
. Disconnect the BLK/WHT wire going to the "S" Terminal on the solenoid.
. Set multimeter to DCV.
. Connect red test lead of DMM to BLK/WHT wire.
. Connect black test lead of DMM to ground.
. Reconnect negative. Battery cable.

If the ignition switch is turned off, yet the DMM shows voltage (likely 12+ volts), the ignition switch is bad.

[masterpontech]

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL

THIS BULLETIN SUPERCEDES RECALL BULLETIN 02008A, ISSUED MAY 2002, PLEASE DISCARD ALL COPIES OF 02008A. THE PARTS TABLE, SERVICE PROCEDURE, AND CLAIM TABLE HAVE BEEN REVISED TO ADDRESS CORROSION OF THE STARTER SOLENOID "S" TERMINAL STUD.
SUBJECT:
02008B - IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS

MODELS:
1995-97 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE
1996-97 BUICK SKYLARK, OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA AND PONTIAC GRAND AM

CONDITION

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1995-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model cars, and 1996-1997 Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Achieva, and Pontiac Grand Am model cars. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts. If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car which could injure occupants of the car or cause damage to adjoining structures.

First off this bullitin does not have anything to do with this switch your main problem is the for sure the ignition switch which there was a recall out for it but it is nolonger what happens is the switch has a little arrow like switch that has a slot for where the ignition cylinder fits in that possibly breaks off which causes it to stay in the on position with the key being on the off position or the switch has malfunctioned internally