Cadillac Repair: 2001 cadillac wont start, rear cylinder head, neutral safety switch

Question
The ligts glow bright plenty of power. no sound just dead. i read about a fuse that goes to the ignition, where is it located and the amperage? i saw a 30amp fuse in the box near the front headlamp is that it?

Answer
Hi James,

      There is a fusebox/relay center in several places in the car. The one for the starter/ignition is probably under the hood. That said several systems help start the engine... the VATS ignition key, neutral safety switch and the starter itself. However I'm not sure about the fuse that you mention or its location.

      What I would do is try the other ignition key and see if it starts. If not then with your foot on the brake pedal hold the ignition key in the start position and move the shifter through the gears from park to drive. If the neutral safety switch were bad or out of adjustment then it might start in neutral or somewhere in between. The last easy thing is to look at the front of the rear cylinder head and you should see a single heavy gauge purple wire connector. Open the connector and place a 12 volt test light or voltmeter on the firewall side wire and then ground the other side. Turn the key to start and if the light lights up bright or you get near battery voltage then the starter is probably bad and needs to be replaced. They put it under the intake manifold so it would be best to have your mechanic replace the starter unless you are familiar with the repair and have the special tools to separate the fuel lines.

    Hope that helps. Bill