Hey folks,

I have been having trouble starting my camaro lately. I will go to turn the ignition and nothing... There is no sputtering or any noise indicating that the engine wants to start. The radio works and the lights work as well. It doesnt do this all the time though, and if i let it sit for a little longer it will start.

If anyone has any idea of what this could be!!

Thanks in advance.

 

Is your security light coming on? If its not that, it must be your switch. I have a "mobile mechanic" coming to look at mine and it does this but letting mine sit isn't working. I do have my radio/lights etc but nothing else. I did have an incident with the security light coming on a few weeks back when I was trying to leave a store. Opening the passenger door reset it and it cranked.

 

OK this could be a few things and the first thing that comes to mind is a going dead starter. Next time it does not start, reach under with a hammer and tap it a few times and then try to start it again. If it starts, replace the starter. If not well...

As always check your connections at the starter and battery and make sure they are clean, free of corrosion and tight.

Does the security light come on when the car wont start? if so have you tried another key? The resistor pellet could be going bad and that would keep you from starting, and if it reads the wrong resistance and the ignition is turned on it will lock the ignition system for 3 minutes.

Massey

 

Yeah my security light has been on, it also stays on when i am driving around town. I just had a new steering column, so i dont think it was the key..

i always thought that they security light being on while im driving was a little weird, just never really paid attention to it.

I will have to try the hammer thing.

Thanks Massey and bud!!

 

Did the light come on before or after this new problem started happening?

Massey

 

If what Massey said doesn't work then you have to look upstream to the clutch postion sensor if it's a standard or neutral start switch if it's an automatic. To test those you just jump them with a wire. Now if that doesn't work you'll have to look into the vats system.

 

The light was on before. It was there when i bought it, But it starts right up 80% of the time. Just happens when im on a date or some time that is very unfortunate lol.

I have heard that it could be the clutch position center before.

 

Hello all. I have a 2002 Camaro SS and this just started happening to me a couple weeks back as well and let me say it is driving me bat-sh*t!

Im not sure which direction to go in but here are a couple of examples of what has happened to me...

This morning, I pull into 7-11 come out and go to start it and nothing - all dash lighs on radio works etc. Constantly turn the key and nothing. I open the driver's door, turn the key and it starts

A couple of days ago, same starting problem, I continue to turn the ingnition from off to start and after 4-5 times, it starts.

I can't figure out a patter or where to start looking. And I don't want to throw away hundreds of dollars on starters, switches, cable etc. if it's something simple or inexpensive!

Another thing I've noticed and I don't know if it's related, but my upper tensioner pully "bounces" sometimes and causes my voltmeter to "bounce" as well. When this happens, I can see my lights and illuminations on my raido flicker ever so slightly as well. But this does not happen all the time either.

I'm ready to bang my head against a wall here!

 

I got an 00' and I had this issue where car won't crank at all and the security light will be on and I will get locked out until that light went on,no chance at craking it again.Happened to me in a packed taco bell, how emberaasing lol. Well I was and still is always driving with that stupid light on. I was gonna get that issue checked out and by mistake I found a trick to the issue myself lol. I don't know bout your clutch but mine is stock oem, grabs on top, well usually you push clutch to the wall to crank it, well becuase I had messed around before working on my hand-leg coordination lol, I knew to where my clutch maxes out so I don't have to waste time pushing it to the firewall. So im like let me see if this does anything, and I tried it and turned out like nothing. Just one of those lucky things lol.

Well to make it short, just go to crank your car like normal but make sure this time around your clutch is depressed is 2-3 inches off firewall!(assuming you've press it all the way before,then this should be your solution,and most likely it might be your clutch position sensor.) Let us know if this helped.

 

ok. kick me. That's a sign I should affix to my back. I fixed my problem and here's what happened. I ended up spending $200 on a problem that literally could have cost me $2 to fix.

I changed my serpentine belt and upper tensioner, as well as the clutch starter switch and starter fuse. Same thing kept happening. I went out and bought a starter, I took the old one out and went to put the new one in, when I noticed that the positive cable to the starter was frayed and there was exposed copper. Stripped the wire and respiced a new end on, installed the new starter (what the hell, why not? it was 95 degrees outside and hotter in my garage, I was covered in grease and sweat and bleeding from shoulders to fingers) Starts like a champ, runs great, voltmeter does not "bounce" anymore, all system go.

I have to laugh because if I didn't I'd go crazy. Plus I really love this mid-life crisis car of mine.

I know the positive cable is almost impossible to see until you take the starter out, but if anyone is having these problems, keep this in mind.

Best to all.

Nick.