Robs98SS

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys,

My 98 SS camaro all of a sudden won't start. The car has 110k miles and has been great for all of them up until now.

A little background on some odd behavior that has been happening lately.

over the winter the car would occassionally not start. This was very intermittent and could be resolved by warming up the key. If I held it in my fingers for two minutes all of a sudden it would start. Once it started to get warmer out, this stopped.

Fast forward to a week ago. The car exhibited very odd behavior on cranking to start. It would turn over but it would stop cranking for a brief moment and then continue cranking. This would happen over and over until the car started. The car never took longer than usual to start but it was odd that this happened in this way.

Now it wont start altogether. I just got out the jumper cables and made sure everything was alright with the battery and the car still would not start, even on jumper cables. So I think I have eliminated the battery as a problem.

I'm thinking maybe the VATS module or something like that? Do you guys and gals have any idea?

Thanks for any help. This one really has me baffled.

EVIL z28

Did you check the actual battery voltage?

homerunhtr21

iTrader: (18)

It sounds like it could be your ignition switch.

Super Speed

iTrader: (8)

x2 that or vats

2fast4u2c

Quick things to check.

1st does a security light come on when you try to start?
If so might be the famed security system which for me required a dealer visit and a few hundred.

2nd thing I'd check would be voltage on the bat. if thats good it could be starter time.
Had that one too and its easy and fairly cheap to do yourself.

Side note if the car is a manual grab a buddy and push start it that could start to a starter imo.

TrybalRage

I had a '96 with similar problems, ended up getting the VATS replaced.

Robs98SS

iTrader: (1)

Okay, The security light does not come on aside from the length of time. I think this rules out the VATS problem.

Also went and got a new key. That didnt help either.

I do hear a clicking right when I turn the key and then it stops.

Battery voltage is okay, plus I tried to jump start it with my wives car while it was running, so battery voltage was very high.

I'm thinking ignition switch or starter. Do starters go out on these cars? I've never heard of it. Mayber after 112k miles it finally went. Do you guys have any more insight? How can I check the ignition switch?

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Man, it can be so much ****.

Corrosion build up is one of the things that does exactly your symptoms. Check everywhere, battery teminals, cable ends, cable at the starter, etc....

You could also have broken red battery cable. I mean broken inside somewhere in that cable.


.

2fast4u2c

If bat is still good and no security light I would look towards a starter. Mine cooked at about 76k miles and 50k miles of that with longtubes.

If it is a stick do a push start just to be sure nothing else is going on. If its not a manual you can simply pull the starter. Very easy to do bottom left of the engine looking from the top. 3 bolts 2 wires and 1 harness plug if I remember right.

I went with a msd/tsp starter for about 220 bucks though no real reason you need to a stock starter can be had pretty cheap as low as 50 bucks used.

Robs98SS

iTrader: (1)

Dude, you may be on to something. I have 50k miles with Kooks long tube headers. And as I described earlier I think the starter is starting to go based on the symptoms. I'll have to take care of that.

Thanks for the help guys.

TrybalRage

Try to tap on the starter with something metal (large ratchet, etc.) sometimes when they are going bad a tap or two can get them working again in the short term. It will still need to be replaced though, if this works.