Cadillac Deville 2001 won't start, engine won't turn over

Asked by dave1943ad May 25, 2018 at 10:47 AM about the 2001 Cadillac DeVille

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Have read 1st pg. of questions related to above question.

For months I've had problems, betimes, getting engine to fire up, unless I work shift lever back 'n forth, and getting progressively worse.  It can go a full week without any issues, then refuse to start for a day.  (I'm maint. supervisor at a motel and have to run errands, betimes)

This is different from most of the questions I've read, so far, in that they were unable to start at all.
A mechanic with 27 yr. experience with GM adjusted the cable on shift lever, down at tranny.  Didn't help.

He's changed  the neutral / park transmission mode switch yesterday....
(4 hour job, total $523)   In next two hours  I started the car 5 times, but twice it did the same thing.   
--somethings I hold switch in start position while working lever from park to nuetural, OR going completely through the whole range, hoping it will crank at some point.   I hold foot on brake, because it MAY fire at 'drive.'

--Sometimes I stop the lever moving and try with it in neutral, which will work, betimes.  
--One time I just kept working the switch and it started

--Just a ''bit'' frustrating and concerned that it's going to dump me somewhere and not start at all.   
--There is no  ''T" shaped relay, only cubes in fuse / relay panel over passenger tire in engine compartment.
--Months back, I did trip the ''security'' system accidentally, and it shows the orange ''security'' either flashing or solid, in dash panel.
--Tried the left / right key in door-- not gotten under rear seat to pull the fuse there.......
__VERY frustrating thing 'bout this, is that the questions I see in relation to not starting, are not like mine, which will behave for days prior to refusing to fire up unless I work shift lever for half minute or up to 3 minutes.
---Late last PM, I attempted to pull the 'start' relay with pliers.    Doesn't want to unplug.   In doing so, I squeezed hard enough to cause starter to engage.   :-)
--Start relay is #36 and Ignition is # 38 in diagram below.
I keyed in fuse / relay box for Deville 2001.

--Have not found the black ground cable at alternator and frame, must be underneath, above the shield.

Would appreciate any help that will enable us to solve the problem.   
Thanks for Making a Difference!!  You matter and count!   :-)

https://www.google.com/search?q=fuse+/+relay+box+for+2001+cad+deville&client=firefox-b-1-ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjnlLP2iqHbAhUENX0KHYXOAIgQ7AkInAE&biw=1574&bih=763#imgrc=rsTaco9nBKH-cM:

1 Answer

dave1943ad answered 6 years ago

ALL FIGURED OUT TODAY, TUESDAY, MAY 29. ......Mechanic kept Caddy and ran it 10-15 min, just sitting, then shut it down for 5 minutes and attempted to start. Wouldn't start, so he tested current TO and FROM starter. Current was arriving, but not engaging starter. It will be fixed tomorrow when new part arrives. Another $600 bill (3.3 hour job) He will cut me some slack on previous park / neutral transmission mode switch and refund part, plus knock 100 off tomorrow's labor and some off the starter. (288 at Napa, 320 at O'Reilly.) LESSON: By his own admission, he should have done the idle test at first. ''But we think we're smart, sometimes, but the intermittent problems are the ones that trip us up.'' The starter is tucked in where it gets hot from manifold, thus shortening it's life, and very difficult to get to--- like most everything in that engine. I can change the starter in 45 min. on my 350, '79 Chev pickup. :-) The mechanic who took me to my home for lunch so I could return to work with my pickup, was driving a very 'new looking' '72 Chev pickup! :-)

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