My 98 Camaro Conv. 6 cyl, manual trans, turns over fine, all lights come on, butwill not fire at times. When it does finally runit does not diebutthen I don't dareturn the caroff. Turning the key off and on very quickly seems to help get it to fire but sometimes nothing seems to work. Previously, we replaced a relay having to do with the security chip on the key but that has been about a year ago and it has run fine until now and if I remember, the lights would not come on when the key chip sensor was the problem. If fuel is the problem would it continue to run after it finally starts? Any help is appreciated.

 

Turning the key on & off quicly several times,as you have ben doing,will cause the pump to prime the system. The pump will work for 3 seconds each time the key is turned on, and then shuts off if the engine is not running. If the car starts OK after priming the system, it's an idication that the system may not be holding pressure. Check the fuel pressure with a F.I. gauge & see if the pressure holds. It should hold steady. Ifthe pressuredrops, then there is a leak in the system, could be the fuel pump, the pressure regulator, a leaky injector, or anexternal fuel leak.

 

Thanks for the reply. These forums are very helpful. At this point it seems like we have an ignition problem rather than a fuel issue and now a mechanic has looked at the car and tells me that moving the steering column seems to have some effect on whether or not it will start. So we will tear into that and see if a wire or something is broken. Apparently I am not the only one with this type of problem.

 

To help anyone else with this problem...the trouble was apparently in a relay module (one of three). We finally replaced the module which is just a plug in $30 item and the car runs. This is the second time this has happened but the first time no gauges or lights would come on when the car refused to start. The second module failure would allow the gauges and lights to come on but the car would not start some times.Therefore I didn't think it could be the relay again. On both occasions the car would run after it finally started, I just didn't dare shut it off. Now I need some good ideas on cleaning the fuel system and injectors.