Okay, I have had my car for over a year now and have always had a problem where most of the time I will hear a "click" on start-up. This cliick sounds like a solenoid click. So, I replaced the starter, nothing.... I replaced the lock cylinder and key, nothing... now, my battery was in the back... and i have put it back in the front this past weekend, while fixing some wiring problems. I felt for sure it was going to fix it, but nope... So, have any of you had problems with the anti-theft system that I keep hearing about? If so, how do I bypass it? Because that is the next thing I want to try before the ignition switch. And, I don't mean that pellet in the chip, I mean, the actual starter lock-out... because, correct me if im wrong, but, if that key was causing me a problem, then the car would practically do nothing correct? Thanks for the help guys, I am in need of this... I am sooooo tired of listening to that damn click!

 

Tell us what you're working with - year? engine? camaro/firebird?

Corky

 

Did you try getting a new battery. My 1989 Trans am GTA was doing that when I attempted to start it up until the battery just died. Another thing is the if you have that anti theft system it does drain the battery but only a little.

How often do you start up your '91 Z28

 

I bought an 89 this summer, I have only driven it about 5 times. The battery was so low on fluids that it wouldn't start, check the battery.

 

It is a '91 Camaro Z28 with a 305 TPI. It has been doing this since I got it, over a year ago, and who knows how long before then. But, he said it did it to him too. I have a Optima Gel Cell battery and I have checked it at Advance Auto, and it charged it up and said it was good. So, how realiable that is, im not sure, but I do trust that it is good. I start it every day a few times, it is a daily driver. I have heard that the factory anti-theft will i guess short inside or something and causes most people problems in that year, so i was checking to see if you guys have had the same problem and knew how to fix it or bypass the system. Thanks

 

does the security light on the gauge cluster come on of flash when it wont start? sounds like it could be a VATs problem

 

The security light comes on once when i first try, and when i bump the lock cylinder for the second time it goes off and stays off... thats whats weird, i feel like it is the alarm system doing it, but the light doesn't come on.

 

if i try to start my car on a low batt, and crank on it to much, the alarm will kill the strater since it sences that the batt was disconnected and reconnected (since voltage go so low with a low batt) it thinks someone is tring to fool with the alarm and wont let you start it, till you lock and un lock it and hit the reset switch inside

 

Yea, i see what ur saying, but does the starter click everytime you turn the key, or does it do nothing?? And, where is the reset button at?

 

it will only do it if the car been sitting awhile and my batt is real low, the starter with click or hardly turn the motor over.....best i can describe it, my reset/valet button is near the fuse box cover under the dash, but it can be mounted anywhere, some cheaper alarms used the LED indicator as a reset button, if you push it down and it moves like a push button switch than thats your reset button, the amout of times you push it or how long you hold it depends on brand and how it was set up when installed, so my process more than likely wont work on yours....... its pretty much a thing that like i said sences the batt. is being fooled with in atempt to foil the alarm and the kicks out the alarm relay for the starter

 

Theres always the possibility that your starter is defective even though its new! I never experienced this but it has happened to alot of people on this forum. I recently replaced the starter on my '89 GTA due to a clicking problem that I had also and that fixed it; it was a mini-starter btw I highly reccommend one! Another possibility could be the starter relay; I dont know about your car but mine is located on the driver's side kick panel you might want to check that out as well! Shot fusible links and bad bettery cables can also cause that. Theres a guy on here who had the same issue as you and it was his alarm system that was the cause, he removed it and it was fine! hope this helps. L8R!

 

agree could be a bad new starter or them darn fusable links, and maybe corosion on the wires if its bad enough

 

Funny, i have the same problem than you since the first january on my 91 Z28 5.7. first when i try to start with the key there is no noise (only the fuel pump) and beeeep (seatbelt).

check the battery, it's ok
i jack up the car and look the wires, everything seems ok too.
knock on the starter & after that now the starter make a noise (click - click)
a friend of me come last saturday and put off the starter, seems it's the solenoid who has a problem.

I'm waiting my solenoid to make another test. i'll keep you in touch if you want.

oh btw does anyone here know where i can found parts to remanufacture a starter please ? My friend in USA who buy me the solenoid at Carquest told me they haven't parts for repair starter apart solenoid.

thanks for info guys

Tof

 

Had this problem on a few vehicles and it was different every time hehe! One was the ground connection on the solenoid, another was a weak starter, and another was the battery.

If everything else doesn't work try tapping the starter with a hammer, not hard but with a little umph behind it and try to start again. It's a bit of a neandrathal approach but it worked to diagnose the weak starter. Don't know if it was dirty or what was going on but they had it changed (was a work vehicle) and problem solved.

Like I said, last ditch effort with the hammer tap if all else fails.

 

my 91 rs, after the car been sitting for awhile, like 8 hours, I turn the key to start it and I get nothing but a click, battery, wires and starter is new, I just kept clicking it til it starts, it is a solinoid problem, wire your starter to bypass the starter solinoid, install a second solinoid from a ford, mount it on the firewall, no problems ever since. I know, I'm not good for putting ford crap on my cam but I do what I had to do with the money I had at the time.

 

i also have had the same problem with the starter on my 91 w/ 305 tbi. i replace the starter and it does the same thing at a cold start up. the new starter works better when it turns the motor.
the wires look good and the car is a weekend driver. could it be that the starter being new is bad?