Ok, here's the deal. Lately, when I turn the key, sometimes (about every other time) it might take a second for the starter to engage, in that second it doesn't click or bog or turn anything, but I would hold the key to start for a second and it would start just fine.

But now, it won't even do that. Battery was tested, it is perfectly fine. I get lights on the dash, and the interior ligts work just fine.

Also, before, when the car would start, the volt gauge would slowly go from 12or13 down to about 8or9, right on the red, but then it would slowly return to 12or13 after a little bit of driving.

This happened once before, the car not starting, about 3 days ago, I took the battery out to have it tested, process of elimination, and when I hooked the battery back up the car started just fine.

I have an 89 IROC 350TPI, no mods to speak of. Other than this, the car seems to run just fine. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

An easy thing you might want to try first is to thoroughly clean all of the terminals and studs on your starter and battery wire cables. Don't know how much it will help, if any, but I'd start there first...

KAM

 

As stated above...connections, connections, connections...

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R
and 2 POS commuters...

R.I.P. #3
"He can see air"

 

89,

Don't overlook the neutral safety switch in the console, the VATS enable relay, and the starter enable relay behind the left footwell kick panel.

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Later,
Vader
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"Let the bodies hit the floor!"
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

I'm kinda leaning the same direction as Vader on your problem. The VATS system on my 89 RS was screwed up, and it was doing about the same thing. When you first turn your key to the on position, the "security" light on your instrument cluster should light up for a couple of seconds, then go off. If it stays lit up, or doesn't come on at all when you turn the key on, you probably have a VATS related problem. The problem with mine was the wires on the key switch for the VATS module kept breaking after being rotated each and every time you start the car.

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89RS w/350 TPI; 69RS/SS w/450 HP 350/Muncie 4-Speed "Too weird to live, too rare to die."

 

let me add my bit of confusion to this. If he has the "pass key" system, it could well be the key and tumbler set. My son's 94 olds did exactly as his sounds. We tracked the problem for 2 days. we could start the car by arcing the starter but it wouldn't keep running. there is a small wire inside the tumbler set that tell the computer the right key is being used. when that wire breaks or wears out, you turn the key and nothing happens. good luck.

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'92 firebird t-tops
305tbi,670cfm tbi, 2 1/2" Dynomax catback, 9x3 K&N open element