GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

1

  1. Turn ON the headlamps.
  2. Turn ON the dome lamps.
  3. Turn the ignition to START.

Did the lights dim or go out?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Step 8

2

Inspect the battery state-of-charge

Is the green eye showing from the built-in hydrometer?

--

Go to Step 3

Go to Charging System Description and Operation

3

  1. Connect the voltmeter positive lead to the positive battery terminal.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the negative battery terminal.
  3. Turn the ignition to START.

Does the voltmeter indicate the voltage is at or below the specified value?

9.6 V

Go to Charging System Test

Go to Step 4

4

  1. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the negative battery terminal.
  2. Connect the positive voltmeter lead to the engine block.

Does the voltmeter indicate the voltage is at or above the specified value?

0.5 V

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 6

5

Clean, tighten, or replace the negative battery cable.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

6

  1. Connect the voltmeter positive lead to the starter B terminal.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the negative battery terminal.

Does the voltmeter indicate the voltage is at or below the specified value?

9 V

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 13

7

Clean, tighten, or replace the positive battery cable.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

8

Inspect the engine fuse block fuse EF1.

Is the fuse OK?

--

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 9

9

Replace the fuse EF1.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

10

Inspect the connection at the start ST terminal.

Is the connection OK?

--

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 11

11

Clean or tighten the connection as needed.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

12

  1. Connect the voltmeter positive lead to the starter ST terminal.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the negative battery terminal.
  3. Turn the ignition to START.

Does the voltmeter indicate the voltage is at or above the specified value?

7 V

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 14

13

Repair or replace the starter as needed.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

14

Determine the type of transaxle on the vehicle.

Is the vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission?

--

Go to Step 15

Go to Step 32

15

  1. Disconnect the Park Neutral (P/N) position switch relay.
  2. Connect the negative voltmeter lead to the P/N relay connector terminal 86.
  3. Connect the positive voltmeter lead to the battery positive.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 V

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 16

16

  1. Disconnect the P/N position switch.
  2. Connect the negative voltmeter lead to the P/N position switch connector terminal 4.
  3. Connect the positive voltmeter lead to the battery positive.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 25

17

  1. Jumper the P/N position switch connector terminals 3 and 4.
  2. Connect the negative voltmeter lead to the P/N relay connector terminal 86.
  3. Connect the positive voltmeter lead to the battery positive.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 V

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 19

18

Replace the neutral safety backup switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

19

Repair the open wire between the P/N position switch connector terminal 3 and the P/N back-up relay connector terminal 86.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

20

  1. Connect the positive voltmeter lead to the P/N back-up relay connector terminal 30.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the ground.
  3. Turn the ignition to START.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 V

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 27

21

  1. Connect the positive voltmeter lead to the P/N position relay connector terminal 85.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the ground.
  3. Turn the ignition to START.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 v

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 26

22

  1. Jumper connector terminals 30 and 87 of the P/N relay.
  2. Turn the ignition to START.

Does the starter crank?

--

Go to Step 31

Go to Step 23

23

Inspect for an open in the wire between the P/N relay connector terminal 87 and the starter ST terminal.

Is the condition found?

--

Go to Step 24

Go to Step 13

24

Repair the wire as needed.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

25

Repair the open wire between the P/N position switch connector terminal 4 and ground.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

26

Repair the open wire between the P/N relay connector terminal 85 and the ignition switch connector terminal 3.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

27

  1. Connect the voltmeter positive lead to the ignition switch connector terminal 5 by backprobing the connector.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the ground.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 V

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 28

28

Repair the open in the wiring between the engine block fuse EF1 and the ignition switch connector terminal 5.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

29

  1. Connect the voltmeter positive lead to the ignition switch connector terminal 3 by backprobing the connector.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the ground.
  3. Turn the ignition to START.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 V

Go to Step 30

Go to Step 35

30

Repair the open in the wiring between the ignition switch connector terminal 3 and the P/N relay connector terminal 30.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

31

Replace the P/N relay.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

32

  1. Connect the voltmeter positive lead to the ignition switch connector terminal 5 by backprobing the connector.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the ground.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 V

Go to Step 34

Go to Step 33

33

Repair the open in the wiring between the engine block fuse EF1 and the ignition switch connector terminal 5.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

34

  1. Connect the voltmeter positive lead to the ignition switch connector terminal 3 by backprobing the connector.
  2. Connect the voltmeter negative lead to the ground.
  3. Turn the ignition to START.

Does the voltmeter measure within the specified value?

11-14 V

--

Go to Step 36

35

Repair the open in the wiring between the ignition switch connector terminal 3 and the starter ST terminal.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

36

Replace the ignition switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--