Hi all recently my 2000 camaro v6 has had some issues starting, sometimes it will start like normal other times it will just make a clicking noise under the hood but if i like pull the key out and open the door and retry a buncha times she usually starts up. I don't think its the battery as the radio comes on and the lights are bright and it's only a few months old.

What do you think it is? Im hearing it could be a starter or solenoid? How do i check if it's the solenoid as i hear thats an easier fix? Or how can I check to see if it's the starter? Please help, she's my first car and she deserves to be fixed right away even though I don't drive her in the winter up here anyway...

 

Get a volt-meter and CK your battery 12.5 to 13.8 volts. If thats OK, then get someone to try to start it, at the same time be checking the battery and see if the voltage drops below 12.0 volts and continues to decline ( while they are trying to turn it over ), if it does, then your battery is weak and doesn't have the amps to drive the starter and the soleniod will jump on and off. If that CKs OK then clean the battery posts even if they look clean. If that still dont work, then its your starter thats probably going out.

Also, could be the Alternator if it's not charging the battery. If the battery was low, hook it up to a battery charger and see if gets 12.5 or more volts. Then try cranking it again, if it clicks on a hot battery, then the soleniod is probably bad on the starter.
If it cranks then CK the voltage on the battery while its running, should be between 12.8 and 14.5 volts, 13.2 to 13.8 is normal, below 13.0 the Alternator is getting weak, above 15.0 volts, its overcharging a little and if it goes higher than 16.0 volts it will fry the battery. If the Alternator doesn't put out at least 12.5 volts it's not going to keep the battery charged. Hope thats not confusing.

 

CNCman gave ya some good advice, first tho , I would check the connections.

 

Oh ok then I'll check the battery and clean the terminals, probly 2morrow though as we're going to see some halloween friends and then I'm going to have my 1st drink at the bar tonight, but yeah I'll check that out.

By the way my car has started normally the last 3 times I've turned the key, its just really wierd I guess. And to be clearer the clicking noise is different than the repetitive 'click click click click(cont)' you get from a battery being too low, it's more like I turn the key and theres a really soft click and when i return the key to it's normal position there is another soft click.

 

Could b passkey. If you have a diffrent key other than the one you normaly use, try using it for a while and see if you still have the problem

 

dont think it would be passkey cuz if it was, it wouldnt even click. ghetto way to find out is turn ur headlights on and crank it. if lights dim then its battery or connections. if not then its the starter.

 

bad connection someplace or the starter solonoid.

 

Well oddly enough Cammy has given me no trouble since posting this - I've checked her battery and its definately still good, but upon examining my drivers key it is looking a little worn and had been through sand and soda pop the week before she started doing her funny starting thing so I've just got this gut feeling my key was dirty - it had been sitting in the cup holder that had recently had soda spilled in it.

Thank you for your help..! If she starts giving me trouble again I'll recheck the connections, and if she still doesn't start I guess try to put in a new starter.

EDIT:
Oh hey we tried that turn on lights and then crank her engine to see if they dim, they came on then my GF turned the key and they got brighter instead of dimmer.

 

If it was the PassKey/VATS system, the security light would come on the dash (usually right above the SES signal) and the click would be coming from the BCM (under the passenger side dashboard). If you saw that light, it's probably the dirty connection on your key. You might also want to use some spray electronics cleaner (available at AutoZone or any parts store) to clean that area. However, make sure you've got towels under the wheel and under the base of the steering column. Otherwise you'll get nasty spills on your carpet that won't come out.

If there's no Security light, do all the battery/alternator checks, etc. listed above.