Hi guys, I just recently had a really big problem with my starter. I had my car parked in a garage for about three weeks while I was gone for studies. When I came back this weekend I wanted to start it up and take it for a cruise but it just wouldn't turn. It just didn't do anything. I checked the battery and the cables and everything just worked fine and there is even power on the cables that bolt to the Starter (Yeah, it sparkled and I got kicked a little :-)).
I tried to break it loose by bumping it with a hammer, rocked the car forth and back in gears, just anything besides unbolting the starter.
I recall that this occured already once or twice on me but it would always turn on the third or fourth try.
Do you know what is going on and especially how I can fix the problem without necessarily unbolting the starter?
I am a newbie in practical use of american engines and it's hard to find someone to learn from in Germany so forgive me my nescience...

 

If the battery is good and the ignition switch is good, then your starter is probably just locked up. I replaced mine earlier this year in about 45 minutes in the driveway, it is not a big deal at all. If you can ground the terminals on the solenoid/switch together and it still doesn't turn, then it's locked up. If it does, then you probably need an ignition switch, or a battery. Don't worry man, American engines are EASY. I work on Porsches for a living, so I know first hand the difference between American and German engines.

 

So you said the starter doesn't do anything at all? no noise? BTW NEVER hit a starter with a hammer, they have magnets inside that do the work and if you break one(which is very easy) then you'll definatly need a new starter...lol chances are the brushes inside the starter wore out and are not making the contact they need to run the motor. no way to find out whats wrong without actully taking it apart. starters on camaros are easy...2 bolts and 2 or 3 wires. what you can do is takee the small feed wire off the starter and with the help of someone check to see if power is getting to the starter feed wire with a test light. got power then starters bad, no power then you have another problem

 

Thanks a lot guys. Yeah, I guess, I'll just have to unbolt it and check what exactly the problem is. It's simply pretty hard to get underneath because it's lowered but I'm gonna find a way somehow... Hopefully it just needs some cleaning and maybe some minor fresh parts.
I'm just curious, why it always started last couple of times and now that the car didn't move anywhere for a while it's locked up. Any Ideas?