Ok heres the story, my brother has an 89 GTA L98. Anyways, he recently was having problems with it starting. It wouldnt do anything at all. He replaced the starter/selenoid, adjusted the timing, and it would start up just fine. The timing still isnt fully adjusted, so it takes a little starting fluid to start it. Anyways...he moved it the other day to do some work. He shut it off, went to start it again, and NOTHING. No power to anything, no dome light, no electic at all. So...he switches batteries... now the electric is back, so he turns the key to start it and it makes a POP..then all electric is dead again. He tested the original battery in another car and it worked fine, the car started with no problem. So he puts the original battery back in the car and there is no power at all. Later on he goes out and attempts again, turns the key, all power is there, tries to start it and once again, POP, all electric is gone again. Well, he had to work today so I went out and tried to start the car. I turn the key and try to start it and it makes a rapid clicking noise...sounds like its coming from the starter. So Im thinking, well maybe the battery doesnt have enough juice. So I put the battery from my car in it, all power works, turn the key to try to start it and POP, all electric is completely dead again. So I say screw it, and put the original battery back in it. Once again, all electric works, I turn the key to try to start it again and POP, everything is dead again. We have no idea whats going on here, but we'd like to try to get it fixed before tomorrow's carshow. He plans on taking both his camaro and the GTA, but the GTA is blocking the camaro in the garage so now we cant take either!! If anyone has any ideas at all please reply and help us out. Thanks ALOT!!!

 

Sounds like a bad cable to the battery, test cables and check engine to fire wall strap, body ground by the battery. sounds like it tries to pull current thru one of these 2 connection then loose connection good luck

 

well, we've checked the ground and it seems good, and it doesnt make any sense how it works then doesnt then works then doesnt, if you switch the battery it works again, then stops. Everything was fine then for no reason it just quit out of nowhere. Every worked good after new starter was put in, then it just stopped. Thanks for the ideas, we'll have to check the other cables

 

what pops when you turn the key? what does the car do if you turn key to the run position and turn on headlights, radio etc do they stay on or go out? are you sure the connection is good at the starter solinoid?

 

the starter is brand new, everything was fine with it for a couple of days, then this happened. Im almost positive all of the connections are good. When you turn the key to try to start the car ALL the power goes out, guages, cd player turns off, dome light turns off, everything goes out. It almost sounds like the popping is coming from the starter. If you just turn the key forward the cdplayer comes on, fuel pump runs, everything is normal, but once you try to start it it all goes dead. Even after taking the key out and quitting trying to start it, everything is still dead. Then once you go back later, it seems like the power is back?? I dont know..very confusing. Thanks for the quick replies!

 

Almost definitely a bad connection somewhere, either a loose bolt or dirt/rust.
Clean the wire ends and nuts/bolts with a wire brush to shine them up and ensure good contact. Check both the positive and negative cables.