To refresh: Bought 95 camaro v6 3.4 Feb 5th. I drove it approx 100 miles over the course of a month. Battery was bought Feb 6th because the one that was in it had to be jumped for me to bring it home, car had been sitting 3 mths. After sitting about 5 days it wouldn't start, not even turn over. Husband automatically assumes alternator because battery was new. Took it off, it was fine but place basically wouldn't let me keep it and said because it had been shaved off on the side, it wouldn't function properly. They also convinced me it wasn't hooked up based on the pictures I took in of my wiring.

Well before I get to the update let me just say that I wish I had taken it and had the alt tested while in car before it was EVER removed. When my husband put the new alternator in, the exciter wire had to be wired into the plug because the old plug had been cut off. We also took battery in to be tested (same time he was wiring car) and it was determined to be defective. They gave me another one. Hubby hooked it all and started car. It ran about a minute to 90 seconds and shut off. He said he felt a little "shock" in the ignition area when removing key.

He said that when he looked at back of alt, some of the tiny wires had came loose and were touching something so he redone those. I'm assuming that might be why it shut off? Anyway, redid all of that, now he doesn't get shocked, lights and "ding ding" (lol) sounds all work but it wont turn over.

He swears its the starter now. Well maybe but the starter not working isn't what shut the engine off. Both he and my 18 year old worked on removing that starter ALL DANG DAY. They have it unhooked but can't get it out. They are threatening to cut through my exhaust pipe tomorrow which I do not want to happen. It doesn't have stock exhaust or muffler on it but from what I've read it seems to be common for the pipe to be blocking the starter in. Any ideas?

 

Let me add that I talked to the guy who had it for 3 years before me. He said to his knowlege the alt that was on it was a one-wire alt and thats why it wasn't "plugged" in. He said he never had any start problems with the car. I have no reason to not believe him because he told me a lot of history on the car before I bought it.

 

Wow a lot of what you said makes no sense at all. Having a battery alternator and starter fail in a group like this on a older car that has been sitting is not uncommon. A weak battery can put enough extra stress on the alternator and starter to push an almost failing unit over the edge. The rewiring part I do not understand. The fact he felt a shock is a major concern. These cars are not like the ones from the 70's You do not just cross wires then put them back after you blow a fuse. The car is loaded with very touchy computers systems. Those are all 5 volt systems. You start throwing around 12 volts in a uncontroled manner you could fry a lot of electronics in a few seconds.

 

If you go down a bit on this forum you can see the wiring pics I had posted. He just did the advice that was given on here as far as "wiring" the alternator. Someone who had it before us had added in some thicker wire that needed to be pulled out of there. I dont think it has anything to do with starter either but he's hard headed. Now if he can just get the starter off and get it tested then maybe he'll listen to someone else.

 

Oh and let me clarify, there was nothing wrong with the alternator other than the fact it didn't seem to be hooked to the exciter wire. According to the guy at the alternator shop, the battery only died because it wasn't receiving anything from the alt. And we dont know if anything is wrong with the starter yet. The "shock" from the ignition, I agree sounds like a problem. I wasn't there so I dont know the details on that. There's more details on this in my original post from last week too.

 

They should have tested things at the starter before trying to remove it, just to make sure it isn't a wiring issue. At the solenoid, jumping across the battery terminal to the "start" terminal with a screwdriver will make the starter work, if it's good. If you can't reach across with a screwdriver, a jumper wire or remote start switch will work.

 

Wrong thread

 

Well I am going to guess that you are still messing with the starter since I have not read anything about it comming out yet. It is a pain in the tail parts to fish out of there. Honestly I would put it back in and have your battery charged. Yes yes I know it is new but a short will kill the car and you said there were wires behind the alternator that came off. That same short will also drain the battery. If the car started and ran then died the starter had nothing to do with that, it is not keeping the engine running.

This is one of those times I would love to be your neighbor and just walk across the street and lend a hand.

Massey

 

I wish you did too! I'd pay you good for the "lending a hand too" lol Today he hasn't messed with it but he thinks if he can get solenoid or something off first that it will come through the hole. The battery said 11.? when he put the voltage tester on it and the one on our envoy said 12 something. Is that still too weak? I asked him today to please put it back together and leave it alone. He wanted to cut my exhaust lastnight and that causes a fight. I fell in love with this car and the nice rumble that came along with it. Dont mess with my pipes!!

 

OK some news.... He's going to put starter back on. And the biggest news, I feel so stupid! While we were talking about stuff I've read about car and such I made the comment to him "I dont know how the ignition shocking you fits in"....he said "what are you talking about?" I said "you said when you turned the key back to get it out that it shocked you". He said "the ignition didn't shock me, when I touched the roof to pull out of the car my hand was shocked like static shock, like my shoes scraped across the mat and probably caused that". I thought all along he was claiming that the ignition did that so scratch that part out of the equation. (duh)


So without that, would trying to jump the car be a bad idea once the starter gets put back on?