OK. 1989 iroc Z camaro. 5.7 tpi.

The thing wont start unless its jumped. i can drive it around for like 2 hours then shut it off. and it will crank hard but wont start. so i jump it and it starts. then i put it back in the garage. come back 10 minutes later and it starts. come back another 5 minutes later and it wont start.

So im pretty confused.

 

sounds like an altenator or battery issue to me

 

Same as the above & if those are ok start checking for accessory drain on the battery. But my first guess may be the alternator.

 

i would look to the battery, starter, coil, ignition modual.

 

What do you mean by "cranks hard"...it cranks well or is hard to turn over? Since it starts when the battery gets extra voltage from a jump, I would say your battery might be starting to crap out (possible dead cell), and doesn't have enough oomph to crank the engine and supply enough volts to the ignition. Have your battery load tested. Also check voltage output at the alternator when it's running, should be right in the 14 volt range.

 

By cranks hard i mean it the starter trys to start the car good but it wont fire.

and i would think its a battery issue but the fact it wouldn't start after 2 hours of driving, and then ten minutes after i jumped it, it would start then5 minutes later it wouldn't start.

Ill check the alternator and get the battery tested.

Thanks for all the feedback guys

 

Alternator wouldn't keep it from starting unless it has an internal short, which isn't the cases if it starts when it is jumped.

Sounds like a ground issue or you have a bad cell in the battery. Get a new battery, clean the connections, and clean all the ground points on the car.

 

if its turning over fast then its not the battery, starter or a bad connection involving the starter. when it wont start check the spark. i would suspect something in the ignition. bad wire or conection or a ignition modual, maybe a coil. could also be something like a maf if u have one.

 

OK. i havent checked the battery or alternator yet because i still need to buy a volt meter.

but today i went out and tryed to start it. it started fine. i let it run for 5 minutes. shut it off, try to start it but it wont start. the starter tryed really hard to start it, but nothing. now my battery is dead so i have to charge it.

could it still be the battery or alt.? even though i went out to start it convinced it wouldent start, it started, then i shut it off and it wont start again?

 

did u check for spark?