I have had continuing issues with getting my bird to turnover and trying to locate the problem. Battery cables, starter, and solenoid have all been replaced over the years. Now the car won't even make a click when the ignition is turned. It has juice, stereo works, voltage meter reads, but no juice to the starter. Once in a while if you push up on the steering column she will turn but I don't know what would cause that besides a loose wire. THe wires under the dash also heat up if you continue to turn the ignition so I am thinking there might be a short somewhere. Any ideas out there on how to isolate the problem. Thanks for your help...

Column shift...or console?

Column Shift...

What year?
This has been covered before on this site. I cant remember exactly what it is but I want to say its the neutral saftey switch?
Someone help me out here.

It's a 69......This car usually starts in gear for some reason so wouldn't that rule out the neutral switch. I read that posting but didn't think much of it due to the wires heating up and the car occasionally turning over with a shake of the wheel.

Sounds like the neutral start/ neutral safety switch.

Try starting the car as you pull "up" on the shifter lever (in park). If it turns over, shift to neutral then do it again but DON'T let it go into REVERSE! If it turns over again, it's the neutral start switch - out of alignment. If it only turns over when you shake the column, then it's a loose connection at the neutral start switch

The neutral start swith on a 69 is at the base of the column almost against the firewall.

it sounds like a bad neutral safety switch or ignition switch...are you running headers?

slam it into park...!

I have had this same problem , and still at very rare occations...my neutral switch is very sensitive....
I also have the neutral switch by passed as a kill switch , so i have to hold a toggle in hidden location to start , but because of that it WILL start in all gears.... but for the rare occation I cant get it back to "park" far enough so it makes contact , I have a 'hidden in plain sight' extra wire from the starter that I can use to contact the battery when ign. key is in and on , to start it...

mine is a console shifter , but it engages the column and the ign switch the same way....

Bjorn,
You need to adjust your safety linkage to the column. You need to extend the linkage rod. It's down by the transmission linkage.

Jim , I think we`ve tried that ,but will look in to it ...thx

Another common Firebird problem is the ignition switch down on the lower column. It is held on by two screws. If the screws come loose it will make the switch so that the rod that extends from the key switch not long enough to engage the starter. There is some adjustment on this switch too.

A starter itself can cause exactly what was described here. As a starter fries it takes more and more power until it will not even roll over with a fully charged battery.

As Jim says, I think that the rod from the switch is a good tree to bark up at.

"""slam it into park...!""

I've never seen Bjorn so agressive!!

You have cleared all other known issues (battery, main wires, starter, solenoid), so focus on the ignition switch or the nuetral safety switch.

I replace battery and starter every 12-18 months just to avoid having to trouble-shoot them on my bird. Cheap parts to replace and this allows one to FOCUS on those things you have not recently replaced. The ignition switch and or nuetral switch could be 38 years old!

The shifter has been slammed...believe me. No luck there. I have tried everything and it doesn't seem to work. Where is the neutral switch located exactly? Is it inside the column? Also, how would a new ignition switch help. It is only mechanical isn't? Seem to pull back the lever just fine?

Cannot remember where my 69' column shift switch was but i think it is fastened to the lower part of the column near the firewall as mentioned.
Here is a 69'olds column shift.Note the wiring on the column.This is where you should find the switch.


David

David, for some reason that pic made me queasy and barf-like. I need to sit down for a minute before any further response. Not the part pictured, just the fuzziness or out of focus, or something...

Stand by, Wildcat.....oh....man...burp........

John,i thought you military men were trained to handle situations, I guess i'll leave the mustard gas on the shelf Sorry only pic i have for reference, column is gone.

David

yea i think the 67-68 dash and steering column was designed MUCH better than 69.

67-68 switches are much more accessible.

Yer killing me David! I did have hot start issues last year, but after replacing the starter and adding a large heat shield to it that problem went away completely. Starts every time, even if the car is maxxed out on engine temp.