After a 5 month downtime, (cracked block), my camaro is finally ready to go. So i hop in the car ready to hear it run after getting it done and all i get is a "click." Its an 86 Z Lb9. Along with the new shortblock, i got a new starter and a new battery. Its hooked up correctly, what could be the problem?

 

The starter motor needs a *lot* of current to crank the engine. The click that you hear is the solenoid, which does not need as much current. It is possible, then, that the starter is getting enough current to trip the solenoid but not crank the motor.

Make sure that the battery is completely charged and that the connections between the cables and the battery are clean. I don't know what you're supposed to do with a new battery--if they come charged or not; my wild guess is that, if the battery is in fact "new", it won't be charged (correct me if I'm wrong). You might want to try jumping the car just to rule-out if it's the battery or not.

If it's not the battery, then make sure that the cables are completely clean. Don't trust the gague on your dash to tell you if enough current is getting to the car or not; a corroded connection might conduct enough voltage to give a good reading on your gague, but probably won't carry the current needed to turn-over the starter.

Or... your starter just might be bad--probably the case if both of the above conditions are met.

 

Every battery I've ever bought or installed came charged. It may not be fully charged, but always enough to easily turn the motor over. I think you have a bad connection, corrosion or a bad starter.

 

the starter is brand new, and i fully charged the battery before i put it in, so ive pretty much eliminated those two options, ill check the wiring tomarrow though. I have an auto tranny and ive heard some people say it was their neutral safety switch that went bad, when their car would not start, could it be possible in my case?

 

If the neutral safety switch is bad (open) then your solenoid should not be engaging at all either, so that case isn't likely.

As mentioned in the previous posts, the solenoid only requires a couple of amps to 'click', but the starter requires several hundred to do it's thing.

Ensure that the block is grounded to the battery negative properly - this is important!

If you try starting the car with the lights on, and they don't dim at all, then it isn't a case of the battery not being charged.

 

i never thought of doing that. Ill check it out now, once again thanks for all your help

 

Make sure that the little copper strap that sticks out of the starter motor frame is connected to its terminal of the solenoid.

 

i just checked it out and the lights do not dim at all when i try to crank the engine over. One thing i dont understand is when i turn the ignition to the one position, the temp gauge is near the bottom but when i try to start it, it jumps to over 260 like it is pinned to the top? I checked the ground at its good and solid. Ill check on that strap too.

 

i checked under the car and the starter gear isnt even engaging the flexplate, but for some reason i still hear a "click." Any ideas?

 

FP or some other relay engaging? Check to make sure the starter is wired properly. Fused links + Positive batt. lead on the large center terminal and the smaller solenoid lead hooked up to the side terminal on the solenoid nearest to the engine block. Also be sure that the large ground strap on the passenger side head is secure. If the soleniod doesnt engage, then like said in one of the other posts, check for a bad neutral saftey switch.

 

i have the cable hooked up the the smaller terminal farthest from the block, hopefully thats my problem. The large ground strap you are talking about, is that the negative lead coming from the battery?

 

Ummmmm VATS?

What year is your car?

 

the car is an 86, its an 84 L69 shortblock though, not sure if it matters. What is VATS?

 

Thats your problem there. The farthest one i belevie is remote power for the ignition or something. The nearest one is to power the soleniod, switch the solenoid cable to the inner terminal and the starter sould work. IIRC, the older cars didnt have vats so i donthtink that is your problem. And as for the strap. yes, that is the neg lead fromthe batery. Should be secured to the pass. side cyl head or the acc. bracket nearby..

 

I agree with the previous post, I made the same mistake. Connect the small wire to the terminal closest to the engine block, that should solve the problem. Also, make sure the battery is fully charged, if you have not already. As a side point, even a new battery can be BAD, and not give you enough amps to run the starter. I had a Brand Spankin NEW battery Heavy Duty XD from Les Schwab that gave it up after just 2 months. It had plenty of volts, but was putting out minimal amps. Take your battery in and have it load tested just to make sure!

 

alright, switched the wire and it fired right up. Thanks to everybody who helped and tried.