Hi.

I've read the earlier posts here regarding startup issues. However, it's not clear that my problem is the same. I would appreciate any advice or insight from those of you more technically knowlegeable than myself.

When I tried to start my 1992 DeVille on Saturday, nothing happened. All of the dash lights, AC and radio were going strong, but no attempt at ignition. Just no response. I tried several times with the same results.

The folks at NTB where I had it towed were a little out of their ballpark once they confirmed that the battery was OK. Nevertheless, they went out of their way to help and didn't charge me anything.

When they rolled it off the tow truck, it wouldn't crank. But after they pushed it into a service bay and the technician tried it, it cranked just fine. Unfortunately when he turned it off, it wouldn't crank again.

Based on some of the things they checked, NTB ultimately said it might be the Pass Key system and that I should try my spare key (which I didn't have with me). Meanwhile, I washed and dried the key I did have and the car cranked.

I drove it home. Next time I tried it, same problem. I then used my spare key (newly washed and dried). No luck.

The fuse (#17 - 15 amp) looked fine but I went ahead and swapped it for the 15 amp spare from #3 slot. Still no dice. NTB probably had already checked the fuse, but I wanted to be sure.

I haven't ever had any kind of problem like this and I've had the car since it was new in 1992. The day before the initial problem happened a garage had run diagnostics and cleaned the EGR port so it would pass GA emissions test. That doesn't seem to be related but I do wonder if some wire or connector might have been loosened inadvertently during that work.

Dealer is saying possible ignition cylinder problem. Apparently there are a couple of wires that are subject to failure on the older Devilles. If that's the problem, the repair supposedly would require a whole new ignition cylinder (at $400 cost), with no way to reliably repair/replace the wire(s) or to bypass the problem.

Even if it's not the ignition cylinder, I'd have to pay a minimum of $75 just to have diagnostics run (after I pay $40 for the tow to the dealer). I'd also have to pay to rent a car for at least one day.

Eek!

Thanks again for any help / insight.

-SGR

Additional info:

I didn't notice the "Security" light prior to my initial Saturday startup problem. If that light came on, I didn't notice. I'm usually very cognizant of things like that.

I subsequently made a point to watch for that light when I drove home from NTB. It never came on. Nevertheless, my car won't even attempt to crank.

-SGR

If it's something with the PASS key that's making it do that I think the light is supposed to be on. There could also be something wrong with the starter but you would haev thought that the shop would have checked things like that.

Check around at the ignition switch itself- not the lock cylinder. It'll be about 1/3 of the way from the floor up the column. You're looking for a rectangular shaped box, about 1-1/2x1x5", with 2 interlocking plugs and a rod from the ignition lock going into it. You can check it with a test light in it's various positions. Be prepared to be human origami- this part is not easy to get at. :suspect: