My car will not start!!
1986 Camaro,305,auto,4 bbl quadra-jet
174,000 miles stock-never rebuilt

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In March I had to replace my alternator. I bought a rebuilt one from a local rebuild shop. After two months the alt. went bad. Two days later I had to replace it again. They told me to check my fusible link and my battery. However, each time when the alt. was tested it (they) were bad. I eventually had to replace the alt. three times. About one month later my car would not start. I had the battery tested and it had a bad cell, so I bought a new one. A few days ago my voltage gauge started jumping around (it did this same thing before when the alternators were bad). Last night, the car would not start at all, not even turn over. (It has been starting just fine) It does not even make a noise when you try to start it. I tried to jump it but it still would not do ANYTHING. I took the battery out of my wife's Caprice (305 V8)and tried to start it with it, but it still wouldn't do anything. Does anyone know where I should start? THANKS

 

Sounds like your starter went. 3 Bolts and a couple nuts for the electrical and it's out, take it down and have it tested. REMOVE the negative battery cable from the battery before you start working on it so you dont short something.


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Chris G
91 TA WS6


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Wise man once say "Red ones go faster!"

[This message has been edited by cg91ta (edited September 12, 2001).]

 

You may want to check the ground wire to the engine. I know that can eat alternaters, and be very hard to find if you aren't looking for it. If your neg battery cable goes to the frame, check for a braided strap going from the engine to the body of the car, and if the neg. bat cable goes to the alternater bracket, take it off and make sure there is no corrosion under it.

 

To determine if it's the starter or the solenoid, you can use a long handle screwdriver to touch the "S" terminal on the solenoid and the 12V terminal on the solenoid at the same time.

Making this connection will bypass a bad solenoid and the starter will turn over the engine. If the ignition key is left in the "on" position while you do this, the engine will start and run.

If nothing happens, no sparks or cranking, then voltage isn't getting to the starter at all and it may be the fuseable link is burned out or, as someone else posted, a bad ground from the battery.

Hope this helps.

Jake

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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9, TPIS Long Tube Headers and DynoMax Super Turbos (HATE 'em)