05 Chevy Cobalt Key won't engage starter, new ignition switch, can jump the brown wire in the column and then turn the key to start?? When you turn the key on everything comes on like it's sup

problem in theft security system it has to be reprogrammed to new key new ignition switch key lock system. dealership fix need diagnostic eqquipment to reprogram new ignition key and ignition switch lock cylinder to the immobilizer control module and ECM.

check for power to the starter with the key in the start position.

Check the neutral safety switch on the transmission. It should have three wires on the connector (if I remember correctly). There should be power on the Brown with yellow wire with the key in the crank position. If there is ground that wire and see if the van starts. If it does replace the switch. If it does not check the starter relay. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them. Thank you for using FixYa.com!

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

The ignition start circuit is the path from the ignition key in cranking mode to the solenoid on the starter. The path travels through a starter relay and a neutral safety switch before it reaches the starter.
This must be the circuit not working on your car.Make sure battery and starter connections are tight.Check for power at the starter solenoid terminal with a testlight when someone turns key to crank. If you have power there, they sold you a defective starter. If you have no power there then it could be the relay or the neutral safety switch.

There can be a couple things, nutral saftey switch, AC DELCO, NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH Direct Replacement Part For OE Number 24219476 `$68.67 , ignition switch not adjusted correctly, try jumping the starter at the starter to see if the starter is working, of course I have just fixed a car that the guy didn't have the shifter in park, try these things and get back to me

Hello, What you are saying is the starter will turn if you jump the starter Relay. If you want to try this a second time, make sure the Ignition switch is in the RUN position. It should start.

Be sure to have the vehicle in Park. There are some Interlocks in the gearshift and Brake pedal that prevent when certain things happen. When your vehicle is in Park or Neutral, the power wire from the Ignition switch can make a connection to the wire that controls the starter Relay.

But first this wire has to get the okay from the Interlock switch, that the gearshift IS either in Park or Neutral. If this switch is bad or misaligned, the connection will not reach the starter Relay. You need to take off the small wire at the starter Relay and hook up a test light or meter. Then turn your Ignition key to START. The small wire should have power when the key is held in the start position.

If the small wire does not have power, then everything connected to that wire needs to be traced back to the Keyswitch. The cables or rods that move in the gearshift or steering column may be out of adjustment. Not too expensive to correct.

I hope my solution is very helpful to you.

Ignition relay or fuse could be the problem. When you turn the key to start do you hear a fuel pump kicking on and or do you have spark when you hot wire the starter (I know it's hard to check while trying to start it)? You can email me back and I might be able to pinpoint it more.

Sounds like the ignition switch has gone kaput. The ignition switch come in two pieces, an electrical switch and a mechanical switch.

The switch electrical portion can be replaced separatly from the mechanical portion (tumbler that the key engages). It is not a real difficult repair but requires some mechanical knowlege of how the column is assembled.

This can be verified with electrical test equipment prior to buying a new electrical switch.

you have an ignition voltage problem or ignition box failure.

Check to make sure that when you turn on ignition switch the solenoid is receiving power to engage the pinion gear and feed power to the starter motor. It is new so I suspect it is not receiving juice. U may have some bad connection causing the intermittent issue. PIA.