1990 firebird w/3.1 auto.This car has been starting great 80% of the time.Then somtimes you turn the key and all you get is 1 clic and nothing.The clic sound is coming from the engine compartment somewhere.I tryed swaping in another starter I got on hand,cleaned the battery end of the cables.I can hook up a battery charger jumper cables and no help.but when it wants to it turnes over fast enuff to fly.Now I been looking at the wireing diagrams on this thing.If it had anything to do with the decode enable modual it should still turn over shouldn't it.Or if that is going bad could it do this clic thing? I know it is possible that this spare starter that was in an 86 bird I bought might not be good.I do have a good one on that car I can take off and put on this car,but if that isn't it I hate to pull it off and swap it. How many things are there that could cause this symptom?Today it wouldn't even try to start.But only a clic! The distributer wouldn't cause this? I'm going to go over my battery cables again. I have just recently done a 3.4 swap.But this car was doing this long before that.Plus it started up first try when we got everything hooked up.keep in mind,if it hits and not clics it starts and runs great.Thanks for any help.

 

It really sounds like a conection issue somewhere, could be positive or negative. So check conections from battery pos and neg from end to end and any pos or neg conections from power wires end to end. HTH!

 

I've given that alot of thought.You think it sounds more engine compartment type issue?I dread having to take out the dash or stearing colume.

 

YUP! From what your saying, you just got a bad connection somewhere. Don't think it's a major dashboard nightmare.

Maybe someone else more familar with your exact car can give a more exact location. HTH!

 

check them grounds

 

Thought I answered this - did you double post?

Anyway - sounds like a starter circuit issue - no need to tear apart the dash.

1st, test starter - grab a 10 ga wire, touch to bat pos and starter where the purple wire connects - does starter turn everytime you do this? If so, not the starter or solenoid.

That means it's an issue with the purple wire - either at the neutral safety switch (NSS), or the ignition switch (not the key cylinder). The ignition switch is on top of the steering column, under the gauges - you remove underdash panel, remove the brace, then remove two screws that hold column up to get at it.

Anyway - if that purple wire doesn't get a minimum number of amps through it to the starter solenoid, it can make the solenoid click, but not allow it to activate.

I have same problem - mine is NSS connector - it won't stay securely held to the NSS, and thus I still get 12v always on purple wire, but not enough amps flow through that connection to activate the solenoid. I used zip-ties to hold that connector on securely, and no problems ever since - starts everytime.

But anyway - here's a starter troubleshooting guide to help: http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=38

 

I'm having this EXACT same problem. Im thinking it is a connection problem somewhere because ive fixed mine before with no major work at all. Something was loose on the battery but im not sure if its the same problem this time.

 

Tell you what, turn your key to the on position and jump the starter with a screwdriver. If that works, wire in a pushbutton switch from an auto parts store and be done with it.

 

The 90 cars were also VATS cars. This may be part of the problem. perform the starter circuit test as recommended. If you are not getting activation power to starter, it may be a VATS issue. Does you key have the resistor pellet?

 

yes,it has the pelit,I run a wire from hot battery to purple wire post and the starter kicked in every time,while checking the firewall for a place to run a wire through for a push button,I found a ground wire running through a 3/8inch hole without any rubber around it and the black wire was cut into but could not find a wire in the engine compartment it would have been hooked to.

 

anyone reading this,I'm having troubles with my account and keep getting an unable to connect.In 2 weeks i've only been able to get in 2 times.once before this and now.some one tell the moderator.please help! e mail sutherby57@hotmail.com I'm sorry if I did somthing to get locked out for.Tell me what it wasand I wont do it again.HELP!!!!

 

Don't take it personally man. It's probably just a glitch. JT will have already seen your last post and I'm sure he'll do his best to fix the problem.

 

Thankyou everyone for your help! I had my computer checked out by Geecksonthego.com and he found that some virus or somthing got past my norton antivirus. Issue is fixed.Also the starting problem has been bypassed for now.My son likes it better.So do his friends.I fixed him up a hand held plunger type button so I didn't have to drill any holes in the dash or anything.