Ignition Problem - Can't start car, no cranking.

50

Asked by CredibleScience Feb 29, 2020 at 05:33 PM about the 1998 Saturn S-Series 4 Dr SL1 Sedan

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My car had an issue with revving idle too high, which I had previously just
turned off and turned on to fix. Out on delivery one night, it did this and
instead of coming to a complete stop, I figured since I was going down a
hill I could pop it into neutral, turn it off and then back on again. I was
wrong, and the car hasn't started since (I can bump start!)

I have since checked my battery and replaced the starter. The battery isn't
discharging any electricity when I try to start the car, so I'm pretty sure
that's why I can't start. I've verified there is also no electricity going to the
clutch safety switch during ignition (attempted) so I'm left thinking it has to
be the Ignition switch. However - I also have noticed that since this issue
occurred, my cars cabin air system is entirely dead. There is no power
going to any of it, so I can't turn on my defrosters (dangerous in my climate)
and I can't turn the heat on (or AC, which is how I circumvented yet another
different issue.) It does not turn on even after a bump start. So my cabin is
freezing cold.

Any ideas what happened and where I should look next? I can't imagine the
cabin air is wired through the ignition switch - which I'm also not excited to
try and replace, although I have a new one being shipped to me now. I'm
coming close to being at a total loss. :(

1 Answer

50

It's a '98 SL1 by the way. I forgot to mention that, and we can't edit things here, I guess. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

1 people found this helpful.

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