Tech / General EngineIs your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
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My friend just bought an '84 z28 with the 350 and the 700R4 tranny. It always sounded to me like it had some issues starting, since it would sometimes take a little bit to catch and start the engine (you'd hear it turn over, he'd be pumping the gas pedal and it just wouldn't start. Then all of a sudden, it would start), but it was pretty trouble free, until Tuesday night. He drove it to 3 places, no problem. Then, it wouldn't start in the parking lot of the local grocery store. I can hear the solenoid click, but the engine doesn't turn over.
Can anyone think of what to check? I'm thinking that his starter is bad, because it didn't jumpstart, but is there anything else I need to check while I'm under the thing this Friday?
If he put too much gas into the carbs, they'd un-flood, yes? Just like a motorcycle? I've never driven a carburated car before (even the '83 Alfa Spider was fuel injected) so this is somewhat new territory to me.
The ignition switch seems okay, if it's clicking the starter noid. But please correct me if I'm wrong!
Help a guy out, I'd hate to see this camaro get scrapped for something stupid.
starter alternator and battery are the first things you should check and yes a carb engine will "unflood" after a little bit. It never took long in my 84 camaro if i flooded it and than thing was ugh a wreck lol.
Thank you for the quick reply! My inclination is to rule out the battery and alternator, if a jump didn't take care of the problem. That leaves my original thought, which was the starter. If I can get it running, I will take it to my local Parts-O-Rama (autozone. Rewards member ftw!) And test the battery just to make sure.
No problem.
If its clicking than its probably the starter more than anything but it wouldnt hurt to check the plugs and wires while you were under there.
Advance Auto will test your battery and alternator for you too. Cant hurt imo...
Before you spend any money or pull the starter make sure all the battery posts and connections are clean and tight. Check the battery cable for corrosion under the insulation. If you're using the standard cheapo jumper cables they may not have enough ampacity to handle the amperage draw and it won't get through bad cables or connection anyway if that's the case.
Before you spend any money or pull the starter make sure all the battery posts and connections are clean and tight. Check the battery cable for corrosion under the insulation. If you're using the standard cheapo jumper cables they may not have enough ampacity to handle the amperage draw and it won't get through bad cables or connection anyway if that's the case.
I thought about that. I'll look at that when I get under this thing. But if the cables have gone to pot, the accessories and lights wouldn't be functioning perfectly, as they are? Or so my thinking goes. I will check, though! Thanks for the help, both of you!
The car doesn't click the solenoid that I hear, he said he heard a click, but I don't hear one, much less a repeating click like the noid SHOULD give (clickclickclick isn't happening.) Instead, I hear a single click, and a whine from the engine bay. it's coming from the front passenger section of the engine bay, from what I can tell. Maybe the starter is seized, but I should still hear a clicking from the noid, right?
okay, there has to be a trick to getting the starter out... i cant figure out how. it's trapped between the y-pipe of the exhaust and the bellhousing. If i go forward, I encounter the block and dont have the clearance to drop the starter out. If i try to go backwards, I end up hitting some lines and not being able to pull it out the bum end.
