Pontiac Repair: Gear box switch problem?, fuse box, volt meter

Question
Pontiac GP year 2003, 3.8 engine about 200k.
When I start the car the dash gear indicator doesn't come on ...It takes sometimes 5 seconds sometimes 20 seconds till lights up, sometimes it comes up in no time. During this time I can't move the shifter( into drive for example).When it lights up I can hear a noise similar to a relay noise. What could this be...?

Answer
Hi there:

+Well I think you have an issue here with high resiatnce in one of the circuits in the ingintion switch and it's not powering up the fuse box fully when you turn the key to run or crank. The easies way to check this is with a 12 volt test light or even better with a volt meter. turn the key to run and check all the fuses in the glove box fuse box and the underhood fuse box. I suspect you will fin multiple fuses that have far less then battery voltage. You see it with a volt meter for sure A test lamp may be harder to see the lamp will be dim. If indeed you have this issue You have to make sure you have full battery volatge into the ignition switch If so and you have less then battery voltage the problem is the ignition switch. If the voltage going into the switch is low you have an issue with the wiring between the under hood fuse box and the igniton switch. A likely place to look is the pass through under the glove box on the fire wall. Good luck :)