I'll go driving for a little while and park the car. Well, sometimes when I go to crank it up again after a few minutes it won't start!! I'll lift the hood and let it sit for at least 10 minutes and it will start up again. I've looked at my thermostat or whatever that is and it almost always goes to the 220° mark. I turn the AC off and it'll SLOWLY go back down to between the middle and far right. (as you can tell i'm not good with cars... i'm 16 and have known NOTHING about cars but now i'm starting to) I looked in my engine coolant thing and it looked dirty and didn't have much stuff in it. I poured water in there this mornin and it started up. Of course it had been sitting for a lil while. What should I do?!?!? Please help fast I need to go somewhere and I don't want to be stuck there when I wanna leave!!!

------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
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There are two types of "no start".

A: Engine cranks freely, but will not start

-or-

B: Engine will not crank at all.

Which one is it? Each case will lead in a totally different direction.

------------------
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i turn the key and NOTHING happens.... =(


I just popped the hood and there is black stuff all over the engine and on some hoses and stuff. Is that grease cuz it's sure as hell not oil. I'm washing the car tomorrow should I clean the engine too? If so how do I do that?!


------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
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I don't know what that black stuff is, but it sounds like your starter is on the fritz. Next time it won't start, have somebody hold the key in the "crank" position, and you beat on it w/ something. If it starts to crank, I say put a starter on it.

I also notice you have a '91, which puts you in the VATS failure window. When it won't crank, does the security light come on for 2 seconds and go out, or does it stay on?

------------------
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If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
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Savannah, GA

'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
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Corvette Servo,
3.73 Posi
4wheel Disc Brakes
Summit 1-5/8" headers, 2.5" Dynomax catback.

Best 1/8: 9.519@72.74

'97 Bonneville SSE

 

what's a security light? (i'm an idiot yes i know)

------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html

 

Down under the guages there is a row of idiot lights. Right next to the "Service Engine Soon" there should be a "Security" light.

 

lol i guess that's why they're called ididot lights... for idiots like me... i'll check that out next time it doesn't start... also does anyone have any suggestions for my temperature reading going up so high??


------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html

 

220 is perfectly normal. I second the starter idea, and second the VATS idea.

 

sorry bout that I meant 280 instead of 220... it gets all the way to the right when i'm drivin... how do i keep it from doing that what all should i check in the morning when I clean all that stuff off the engine and check under the hood?

------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html

 

If it's getting that hot... One thing I'd check right away is the condition of your oil and check if you have any oil floating in your coolant. Getting that hot could blow a head gasket or it has been blown and is making it run hot. Check for any debris in front of the radiator that might be blocking air flow.

 

also make sure your electric fan is coming on, and that water is actually flowing throught cooling system is pressurized by squeezing the pipe that goes from the radiator to the thermostate(top driver side)

------------------
1991 Z28 305 5spd 1LE, TES headers, dual cats, 3 Chamber flowmaster, Comp cams .488/.495 212/218, 187 head castings with bigger valves, self-burned eproms.
Gained 20HP by porting and polishing my EGR passage.(some people take this seriously)

All work done by myself, and proud of it!

Find a .bin on the internet and want it burned? I'll do it for you!

 

Looks like some1 has a stuck key on their keyboard!! (refering to the way the subject is typed)

Actually though, I'll say this is not VATS because I had the same thing. I thought it was the starter too, so I played around with the connections and it was still the same. I whacked the starter, that didn't work. What did though, was adjusting the Neutral Switch which wasn't set correct. I readjusted it and its worked correctly since then. Also, why do I say its not VATS?? That would be because my car doesn't have it.

------------------
89 RS

STILL Looking For:
87 IROC-Z28 350 TPI

 

AHH! What's a neutral switch?!?

------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html

 

It's switch that prevents the car from starting when the car is in drive or reverse and only lets it start in neutral and park. If it's bad or misadjusted it can cause a no crank condition. Next time it won't start, try taking it from drive to neutral or vice versa. Sometimes that will work. I don't know exactly where the switch is located so I can't help you there though. If you have a manual car, something similar to look for is the clutch switch, which only lets it start with the clutch engaged.

About the cooling problem. I would start by making sure the coolent is flowing. If it's not, either the water pump is bad or the themostat is sticking shut. Personally, I would replace the stat with a 180* unit just for good measure. If it IS flowing, look to see that you fan is coming on, that there is no debris in front of the radiator and that you have an air dam. The air dam is a piece of plastic bolted to the underneith side of the car just below the radiato. It's about 3 1/2 feet long and 5" tall. You probably shouldn't drive it until you get the cooling problem fixed. THat can really screw your engine up. Hope all that helps. ~ Arnold

 

i had a guy i know look at it today and he told me that my thermostat was sticking and causing my engine to overheat... and since my engine was hot it wouldn't crank... that's what my problem was... tomorrow he is picking me up a new thermostat... thermostat gasket... and is gonna install it on there for free... what a great guy

------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html

 

If that doesn't work, check the NSS. I thought other fixes would do it too, but thats what did it though.

------------------
89 RS

STILL Looking For:
87 IROC-Z28 350 TPI

 

Whoever is looking at your car is clueless. Overheating will NOT cause your car not to crank (unless you got it SO hot that it blew a headgasket, and filled one of your cylinders w/ coolant, but then it would NOT crank for a LONG time, not 15 minutes later). Its good that he is going to fix the overheat problem, but don't be surprised when it still won't start.

------------------
FREE CARFAX Record Check

If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

GM Master Tech
ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA

'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
16" GTA rims,
Corvette Servo,
3.73 Posi
4wheel Disc Brakes
Summit 1-5/8" headers, 2.5" Dynomax catback.

Best 1/8: 9.519@72.74

'97 Bonneville SSE

 

well what is it then?!?

------------------
(orignally CDnAP48)
'91 Camaro RS (in readers rides)
Dark Metallic Blue
V6, 4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player and Sony Xplod 6x9's, Kelly Charger Front Tires. Soon to come, DJSexay Kick Panels, Polk Audio Component Set, 2 Rockford Fosgate 12"
s, Rockford Fosgate Amp, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Carpet, Floor Mats, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.
E-mail me for any questions or comments.
AdidasPredator15@jam.rr.com
http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html

 

CD,

If you only have the problem when the car is hot, and if it always works after letting it cool, then I'd suspect a heat problem. The other suggestions, while good in their own right, would not be affected by the engine being hot (VATS and starter interlock switches).

It was suggested to hit the starter (solenoid) while someone holds the key in the "start" position. This is a good idea. If the solenoid is stuck, rapping (not the type of rapping you hear on the radio [I was going to call it singing) the solenoid/starter may be enough to free the solenoid so it'll operate.

I don't know if the heat causes metal to expand and interfere with it, or create too much resistance in the electrical contacts.

What actually is the problem with heat affecting the starter (is it the solenoid or the starter?)?