I have a 1997 GMC Jimmy 4.3ltr 6cy, sometimes when I turn the
ignition, the gauges don’t move, the air-bag, check engine,seatbelt
icons do not light up. When this happens, the truck will not turn
over. When all the dash lights go on, and the gauges move, the truck
turns over. Why does this happen, and what can I do to remedy this?

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could be a bad ignition swith that does not always make a good connection.
or clean battery terminals extra good.
old john

Hello, Chef!
You wrote on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:22:14 -0500:

C> I have a 1997 GMC Jimmy 4.3ltr 6cy, sometimes when I turn the
C> ignition, the gauges don’t move, the air-bag, check engine,seatbelt
C> icons do not light up. When this happens, the truck will not turn
C> over. When all the dash lights go on, and the gauges move, the truck
C> turns over. Why does this happen, and what can I do to remedy this?


With best regards, ajeeperman (AT) comcast (DOT) net. E-mail: ajeeperman (AT) comcast (DOT) net

In article <1203843_572911b8891e5c5a7809df8b993b7936 (AT) autoboardz (DOT) com>,
Chef <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

I bet it won't shift out of park either...

Ignition switch. 97 seems to be a particularly bad year for ignition
switches.

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:22:14 -0500, Chef <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

I'd go with aacuda on the park/neutral switch as a first guess..

Does it have the factory security system?

Our 95 Blazer (pretty much identical, I think) sometimes won't respond to the
key turning (but it will turn) until we hit Unlock on the key fob..
When we bought the truck, the original owner said that it had been like that
since he bought it new..

Also, I'm not sure on Chevies, but on older Fords the same problem occurs,
including not being able to get it out of park, if the brake pedal switch isn't
working..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Chef wrote:
time, while holding the key to start, have someone wiggle the positive
battery cable right at the battery. PLEASE BE CAREFULL THAT ALL HANDS
ARE CLEAR OF ANY ROTATING PARTS.
If you can start it by wiggling the cable, it might be corrosion on the
battery terminals. There are usually 2 cables on the positive terminal
of the battery (side post). One feeds the starter, one feeds everything
else. The battery leaks right at the positive post, acid travels through
the terminals to the spacer between the terminals and sits there.
Corrosion ensues. The terminal closest to the battery is usually tin
plated copper, but is sometimes moulded lead. There is then a lead
washer, followed by another terminal almost always tin plated copper.
Through this stack is a cadmium plated steel bolt. All these dissimilar
metals when soaked with acid, produce a lot of corrosion. Symptoms are
typically as you describe, or sometimes you get nothing at all when you
turn the key. Another symptom is when you turn the key to run, all the
lights come on and everything seems normal, but when you go to start,
you get a single click, then nothing. You lose all power, no dash
lights, no radio, no nothin'. Clean your battery terminals, or better
yet, if you can is to replace your battery with a top post and your
battery cables with the appropriate connections.

KenG