This is on my moms '95 z28 M6, bone stock.

She says it started this morning, and she turned on the defroster, and heat, about 3 seconds later the car cut off. Then it wont turnover any more. The fuel pump does not prime, no dash lights, the radio doesnt get power, the only thing that works are the headlights and interior lights. They pulled the battery today and had it tested, it was fine. The only thing I can think of is the PCM crashed, since the fuel pump doesnt prime and the gauges dont come on

 

First, check all the underhood fuses. Then you might want to check the ignition switch or the anti-theft module.

 

They checked the fuses and all the fuses are good

 

fuse link or ignition switch

 

What is the fuse link? would the ignition switch make the car just cut off, after it just started with no problem? How would they check either of these?

 

Does anyone else have any ideas on what to check? Im not with the car so I cant help them out. I have been trying to teach them what to do over the phone

 

My guess is ignition switch or connection right there at it. There is a replacement guide on my Tech Page.

 

Jump the starter and see what happens, PUT IT IN PARK AND EBRAKE!!!!!!!
same thing happend to my 3000gt and the starter was bad. NO lights no nothing. Untill i replace the starter. Then vroom. That will tell u if its a prob in your switch or starter.

A side note, replace your batt. terminals, you will be surprised how a little burned spot could waste hundreds and days.

MULTIMETER IS YOUR BEST FRIEND ,know every thing about them.

 

This isnt my car its on my moms '95 z28 M6. I have told them to have the starter tested, but I dont think they did. Also would jumping the starter work? since the fuel pump doesnt kick on.




Thanks Shoebox, I will have them look into that.

 

Sounds like a bat or a connection between the bat and starter. There is also a junction that is red that connects a bunch of wires for the whole car on the fender.

Check the voltage at the big post at the starter. If it is good then ya got a connection that runs inside that is bad.
Clean the bat cables. They can be insulated and not look it. Then try to jump it off across the bat.

Most of the time a regular shop can't/don't fix these kind of problems. You may have to go to a specialty shop that does these problems,before your Mom cleans your plow for breaking her car.

 

Thanks for that help, I will tell them to try this.


And I wasnt the one who did this, it was her. She is in MA and Im in NC, she just calls me for help since she knows I have done all the work on my car, and know a decent amount about fbodys, but this has me stumped especially since Im not up there with the car. I was thinking it was a connection problem too

 

Based on your first post (no gauges/dash lights but headlights work), it is a classic ignition switch problem. Mine cut off more than once when idling, too.

Have her try working the key back and forth from OFF to START a bunch of times. It just might catch. If it does, you know it is switch related.

 

Thank You everyone you guys are GREAT, and Shoebox you are a Camaro genius


She had it towed to a shop on Mon, they didnt get a chance to work on it til wed, and when they went to mess with it, the car fired right up, and kept firing everytime they tried. Until around 5 they went to move the car and it wouldnt start agian. They replaced the ignition switch today, and noticed 2 wires that were burnt. New switch in there now and works great.


Thank you guys

 

Glad you posted the result. It will help those that do searches in the future.

 

You will have two different grounds going from your battery. One to the engine. And one to the body somewhere nearby the battery. If you lost your ground to the engine, the only thing that would work would be the things on the body circuit like the headlights and such. Sounds like it could be very possible your ground to the engine had came off. I think if it did everything else wouldn't work even the engine computer, fuel pump, relay, basically everything. Could be completely wrong but its worth a shot. Good luck