so today i got myself out of the house long enough to swap out my gauge cluster in my 86 camaro tpi with a new one, but i did check before i took out the cluster if the car would turn over, it didnt. i figured it was the battery and didnt think to much of it since the car had been sitting there for 2 months and only driven once or twice. so after swapping in the cluster i figured id get my other car and jump start it, i hook it up let it idle for a bit, try to turn it over....nothing, not even the click from the starter. so at first i thought, crap its the starter. since the fuel pump primes, the heater works, the headlights turn on, basically everything works, but it just wont try to turn over.

so im here to ask you guys who have more experience than me. is it pretty obvious that its the starter? i mean i dont even hear it click like you usually do when it tries to engage. but also i was wondering if it could be the ignition switch. also it was about 90 somethin degrees outside while i was working so i dunno how weather ties into the matter. im planning on going tommorow to the car and tapping the starter motor to see if that helps.

 

bump

 

Okay my friend,try this to see if it works--turn your headlights ON and try to start the motor.Have another person keep an eye on the lights.If the lights dim while the key is in the 'start' position,it's the starter.If the lights stay bright and don't dim when you're trying to start it,it's probably the switch.Let us know what happens.Good luck!

 

Test the bat to see how much power it has.
Take off the battery cables make sure they are clean. If they are old replace them. When they get old they will pull enough power to keep a car from starting. Also make sure they are tight.
Check your engine to chasse ground, body ground. Everyone you can find.
Wouldn't hurt to see if you have power to the starter solenoid either. Small red wire on starter, when key is turned to start.

 

are the only possibilities the starter and the ignition switch, or could the ignition coil and ignition module also be the culprits?

 

It could be a bad starter, ignition switch or neutral safety switch. If automatic trans, the switch is on the shifter under the console plate. If it is not in park or neutral on the switch, the starter will not engage either. You will need to do some diagnosing so you are not just replacing parts just because you think they are bad. One thing you can do to eliminate the starter is to take it off and bring it to a parts store and have them check it. If it works for them, then it's not the starter. Best thing to do is get a multi-meter to check for power at the ignition switch and at the neutral safety switch after having the starter checked. Also do the checks that kcb37 mentioned. Somewhere in there will be the issue. The ignition coil and module will not have anything to do with the starter. Good Luck!

 

would there be any reason any of those would go wrong by just letting the car sit there on the street? now that i remember , i tried to start the car once but i turned the key and nothing happened just like right now, then i did it again and it turned on, but i didnt think any of it.

 

Air moisture can get to things. If sitting for a while, the connections in the switches can get corroded, especially when the humidity is up. It happened in my S-10 with the light switches, even though I live in a dry climate and I drove it everyday. My issue was pool chemicals in the truck were combining with the air and corroding my switches along with other things. You being in SF, the air there is probably humid from the ocean air. Get a good look at all of these things and see what you find. Also, make sure the connections are tight in the connectors. That could also cause issues.

 

after fiddlin around with the fuses awhile and under the hood touching various wires and stuff. i looked at the gauges i just installed, seems i didnt push them in all the way and werent connected correctly, but i didnt matter since i had tried to start the car before. anyways, i turn the key and BOOM, it turns on. which is crazy. after chasing down the cause of the no start for acouple of weeks, it just turns on like that. then i turn it off and back on again. No Problem. so im wondering what could it be that all of a sudden it turned on? perhaps one of the wires i touched?