Camaro randomly won't start.

[user_id47]

Hi folks,

My '90 Camaro has in the last month or so had a problem starting on a consistent basis. About every 2 days or so I'll get in the car to start it and it won't start no matter what I do. If I wait a day or so and come back out later to try again, then it might start, and will work again for several days. When I do get it to start, I give it a pretty good drive to charge up the battery. When it's not starting, all the normal lights on the dash will go on, so there is some power. But otherwise the car is dead, until I come back a day later. One of the last times it left me stranded and I had to call the tow truck to jumpstart the car, which seemingly worked (or was it coincidence?). When I had it towed to the mechanic, he tested the starter and the battery to see what was the problem, and could not find a thing wrong, nor could they replicate the problem (the car kept starting for them). They said it was probably the alarm system (Clifford brand), and that I should take it to an alarm specialist.

I just took it to Best Buy to their alarm system department. They could not for the life of them replicate the problem to even tell me if it is the alarm system. I suspected at first that it could be the ignition kill switch or a short somewhere in the system. However, the alarm sets and unsets fine. I'm not sure if I should just replace the alarm system or what. The mechanic doesn't even know where else to look. I'd hate to replace an alarm system for nothing just to find out it is something mechanical after all. And it was weird that jumpstarting the car seemed to get it to start.

Any suggestions as to what might be wrong?

Thanks!

[Bombebomb]

Originally Posted by user_id47

Hi folks,

My '90 Camaro has in the last month or so had a problem starting on a consistent basis. About every 2 days or so I'll get in the car to start it and it won't start no matter what I do. If I wait a day or so and come back out later to try again, then it might start, and will work again for several days. When I do get it to start, I give it a pretty good drive to charge up the battery. When it's not starting, all the normal lights on the dash will go on, so there is some power. But otherwise the car is dead, until I come back a day later. One of the last times it left me stranded and I had to call the tow truck to jumpstart the car, which seemingly worked (or was it coincidence?). When I had it towed to the mechanic, he tested the starter and the battery to see what was the problem, and could not find a thing wrong, nor could they replicate the problem (the car kept starting for them). They said it was probably the alarm system (Clifford brand), and that I should take it to an alarm specialist.

I just took it to Best Buy to their alarm system department. They could not for the life of them replicate the problem to even tell me if it is the alarm system. I suspected at first that it could be the ignition kill switch or a short somewhere in the system. However, the alarm sets and unsets fine. I'm not sure if I should just replace the alarm system or what. The mechanic doesn't even know where else to look. I'd hate to replace an alarm system for nothing just to find out it is something mechanical after all. And it was weird that jumpstarting the car seemed to get it to start.

Any suggestions as to what might be wrong?

Thanks!

I have the exact same problem. I have not tryed jumping it tho. The other day it started right up, ran for a few minutes and died, then fired right back up0 couple minutes later, shut it off, tryed it next nite, started up, not it will not start at all. All it does is roll over, don't even start to fire.

[ct91rs]

user_id47, does this happen when it's been sitting, or only when its hot out, after you have been driving it for a while?

Bombebomb, there's a good chance you have a faulty ignition control module.

[wrightz28]

user id47 - do you use your steering wheel tilt alot?

bombebomb - you definately have a fuel or spark issue.

[ophAze]

same thing happens to me.. It's really annoying have to try your luck out with the car, wondering if its going to start or not. With me, it happens usually when i either leave it for more than 2 days .. ORR, when its in the sun, parked for a few hours... and even when i do get it running, as soon as i stop at a light or stop sign, it turns off .. =(

[Morley]

When it doesn't start do you turn the key and the gauges react and all but the starter doesn't engage? If that is the case, next time it does that. get someone else to turn the key while you slide under the passenger side of the car with a hammer and give the starter a whack or 2. if the car starts then, replace the starter.

[91camaro_rs]

I had the same exact problem with my camaro. Computer went bad. Picked one up for 30 bucks at a junkyard. never had a problem since

[tdaga]

Originally Posted by user_id47

Hi folks,

My '90 Camaro has in the last month or so had a problem starting on a consistent basis. About every 2 days or so I'll get in the car to start it and it won't start no matter what I do. If I wait a day or so and come back out later to try again, then it might start, and will work again for several days. When I do get it to start, I give it a pretty good drive to charge up the battery. When it's not starting, all the normal lights on the dash will go on, so there is some power. But otherwise the car is dead, until I come back a day later. One of the last times it left me stranded and I had to call the tow truck to jumpstart the car, which seemingly worked (or was it coincidence?). When I had it towed to the mechanic, he tested the starter and the battery to see what was the problem, and could not find a thing wrong, nor could they replicate the problem (the car kept starting for them). They said it was probably the alarm system (Clifford brand), and that I should take it to an alarm specialist.

I just took it to Best Buy to their alarm system department. They could not for the life of them replicate the problem to even tell me if it is the alarm system. I suspected at first that it could be the ignition kill switch or a short somewhere in the system. However, the alarm sets and unsets fine. I'm not sure if I should just replace the alarm system or what. The mechanic doesn't even know where else to look. I'd hate to replace an alarm system for nothing just to find out it is something mechanical after all. And it was weird that jumpstarting the car seemed to get it to start.

Any suggestions as to what might be wrong?

Thanks!

I had a same problem with my jeep... I found it it to be the crank sensor...unplug it...turn it over 3 or 4 times... plug it back in and see if it starts, thats what I had to do to get it started... good luck

[MarineOne]

I'm not sure about the 3rd Gen Camaro's, but my '93 has the security chipped key. The chip acts as a resistor with a specific value and if that value is off, for whatever reason, the car will not start. Not only will it not start, but you will be required to wait 4 minutes before attempting to start again; this is shown by the "Security" light that turns on. It has not happened to me for quite some time, but when it does, it's real random and I'm told that it's probably because there was a peice of fuzz or lint on the chip. I had NO CLUE as to what the deal was the first time it happened and I had my car towed...

Somewhere down the line, I came across the information I'm posting now. Again, I'm not sure if this is the case with any of the cars which have had this problem, and maybe what I'm posting is a real no-brainer to the Camaro community, but it proved beneficial to me.

Good luck!