I have an 89 rs. Tonight I drove it to the grocery store, normal driving not hard or anything. Park and when I get back the car won't start. The battery was working cause the stereo came on but no noise from the starter whatsoever. I pop hood take a look and see nothing wrong. Then I sit in the car looking for a quarter to call home 3 minutes later I try starting it again and if fires up. What would have cause it not to start? Sorry for the long post.

 

I had the exact same thing happen to me.
Does your ignition key have a resistor on it?
A little rectangular black piece with a metal line inside the key?
Yeah make sure thats cleaned off.
Dust off the ignition with a woman's makeup brush (unused of course).
While you're at it use that brush to clean your air vents.
Remember, NO WD-40 IN THE IGNITION!

------------------
1992 Pontiac Firebird (stock)
- 305ci V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Every option, excluding leather
- Killer car audio system:

• Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 360a2 amp
• pair of 12" MTX Thunder 5000s in a custom box
• Pioneer 3-way 6x9s, soon to add more more more!

 

It could be a sign of the starter and/or solenoid going bad. Mine wouldn't turn over once in a parking lot, but it started right up after we pushed it off the rollback at my house. I put a new starter on, and I've had no problems since. I would also check to see if the battery cables are corroded.

 

If it's an 89, most likely it does have that little nugged in the key. A lot of people seem to have problem with it after a while (known as VATS). Try cleaning it off with some rubbing alcohol, and drying it before you put it back in your car. Search the boards, there's plenty of much better posts than this one about this subject.

------------------
89 iroc-z 305 tbi
k&n filtercharger, open element air filter. nuffin' else

 

I'll check out the ignition key and battery. Thanks for the ideas guys.