Hey everyone....
I swapped out my fried transmission over the past week or so and now I have erratic engine performance and electrical issues. For example occasionally the car will spit and sputter and act like it running on only half power. When I come to a stop sometimes it will idle down and stall. I have always been able to start it back up…. The RPM’s will fluctuate and the car will kick real badly. When this occurs typically I’ll get some electrical issues as well…. Not all at the same time but they vary from the heads up display changing the speed up to 100 and something then down to 0 and back up… The MPG computer will read all 0’s. The tachometer and speedometer will jump all over. The TSC light will come on. The rear windows won’t roll down.

With all this being said I drove to work this morning – 45 miles and I didn’t have a single issue??????

From what I’ve read I believe it to be an issue with the battery, ignition switch, or the alternator

How do you determine if the ignition switch is bad?

Thanks everyone for taking a look.

My guess would be the CPS

If the electrical problems weren't there before the trans swap, I'd go back and recheck all the electrical connections, grounds, etc. It's possible that trans might have some bad sensors as well. Good Luck!

I'd also check vacuum lines. You might have had a brittle one and moving the engine around getting the tranny out could have cracked one.

Well I had the battery tested and it was toast. I switched that out and went back and had the alternator tested. It tested ok.... Right now the Traction contol light comes on and off and the heads up computer will flash all zeros then go back to normal... I'll check all the electrcial connections and check the vac lines. Thanks...

im still going to stick with the cps

I couldn't find anything that was loose or hear any kinds of leaks... How else would you check fro vac leaks?

Well Yesterday I was driving along in my automobile and the dash lite up... The low oil light started blinking the coolant light came on the SES was blinking and the car was sputtering like it was going to die... I pulled over and checked for loose connections under the hood and all seemed ok. I restarted her and it was fine. It was fine all the way to work this morning too.

I guess I'll try changing out the CPS if you guys think that's what it might be. I need to rent a pully puller for that one right?

If everything on the cars goes in and out. And the heads up display goes to zeros, that mena its not getting power and it reseting. I would say its you igintion switch. If the CPS was shot then the car would just run like crap. Nothing in the car electrical wise would reset.

Check your grounds that attach to the engine/tranny bolt? Something is killing power.

x2. If you changed your tranny and didn't put thoughs grounds on good enough. that woudl kill the car. Also that would kill the battery if the grounds are bad.

I connected one ground to the bolt on the tranny. I connected a bunch of stuff I think 3 wires to the starter and one by itself a purple wire..... Just drove it and went to pull out into traffic and it acted like it was misfiring. Would that be ingnition switch related? A few minutes went by and it was fine again....

There are two or three grounds that bolt to the tranny if I remember correctly. I'd double check all of your wiring at this point.

Well I went and had my check engine light scanned and it brought up 4 codes.

Two of the codes were related to 02 sensors bank one sensor 2.
One code said system running lean.
One code said multiple misfires.
So of course they wanted to sell me new plugs and wires. I didn't have a chance to check my grounds yet but I will tonight. This morning I went to start the car it it just went click click click click. I pulled the key out and did it again and it started right up..... One the way to work I didn't have any wierd electrical issues but it did misfire for a couple seconds here and there.....

OK I would take a day out and knock out all you problrms. First do plugs and wires, and fuel filter, and Chekc your grounds. take the car for a drive and see whats up if youae getting still misfires change the coils, take the car for a drive again if the car does te click click again change your igintion switch. that should take care of everything. O and this si all depending on funds and time.

Well she has failed me. Left me stranded at work. All the lights come on the headlights come on the fan can even be turned on but it won't even click when I turn the key. I have never had a POS with this many problems - why I keep dumping cash into it nursing it back to health is beyond me. I guess its the ignition switch or heck who knows could be the starter or any other of a hundred things.

whenever my car did that, it was the starter.

You have a 10 year old gm car. its gonna have problems

Yea I know... Its like your favorite old dog - just can't bring myself to put her down. I'm going to try and jump start it today after work.

If you're not getting anything (no clicking, no attempt to turn over) when you turn the key, but you have full power for all the accessories, I'd say pull your starter first and have that tested, if not that, it's gotta be your ignition switch. I had that problem awhile back and had to replace both.

I attempted to jump the car at lunch and nothing... I guess its down to the ignition switch or the starter....

Check your starter connections; especially the terminal with the purple wire. Sometimes the terminals loosen up (or worse, break) when removing & replacing the starter.

I was convinced it was the ignition switch! But, sadly I replaced it just now and went to start it up and now all I get is click click clicky click…. Starter anyone?

I did notice that while I was changing the ignition switch that there were two wires a black one and a green one with a white stripe with a connection fitting on the end. It wasn’t plugged into anything…. What is that wire and should it be plugged into something?

Check your grounds. If your trying to start it and its just making a clicky sound, a faulty ground will cause that. Also might be worth taking off the starter and take it to autozone where they can tell you if its bad or not.

Where are the grounds that would be affected in changing out a transmission? Thanks for your help... I don't know if I missed one or what...

Well I have now taken the new battery back and had it charged and tested. I also replaced the starter. The car started after a slight hesitation. I ran it for a minute and turned it off. Started it back up and was fine... then.... drove it 1/4 mile down the road and it died when I stopped at a light and would not restart - I just get a single click.......... I'm at a loss.. Does anyone know how many wires are attached to the big bolt on the starter? I have a believe 4 two single wires and a double is that correct? I can only think that something is wired wrong? Please help.....

Here's the starter circuit wiring diagram for a 98 GTP:

Well.... I'm throwing in the towel I called AAA and I'm having it towed to the stealership $90 for a diagnostic and I'm sure it will only go up from there... I'll let you know what they discover.

Well the dealer just called.... They unhooked it from the tow truck and it started right up I gave them the story so there going to wire it up and check some thing out.... Stay tuned.

The dealer couldn't find anything wrong...

The car is now for sale, this may be a steal for someone who likes to tinker with these cars. Its a black 98 GTP with 189,XXX miles. I'll probably do a full write up and pictures over the weekend.

Thanks...

Drum roll......... Bad ground at the tranny ground bolt.. Doh.. I cleaned it off and tightened it "all" the way and she fired right up! All this after buying a new battery, starter, ignition switch, and crank and camshaft postion sensor... I'll try and return those but I'm going to keep the new impact wrench I got last night Thank you all very much!

The thing that made me think it was a ground again was the white dots all over the s/c and alternator... Chemistry class flashbacks there...

Told ya so... Glad you found the problem; does this mean you're keeping the car?

I haven't decided yet... As of now its still up for sale.