Hello to all! I Have a starting problem. Here I go.... Sometimes (Not every time) I go to start my car I get one click only, wait for a bit, move the steering column up and down (don't really know if this helps) maybe it will start. Or I might just get the one click again. It will eventually start, might be a while but it will. That's what is going on. So, here's some info on my car. 1990 camaro TPI 305, all stock. I have a chip from TPIS to override the VATS. Battery is great condition, nothing wrong with it. Cables to the battery are tight and not loose. Now my steering column is loose, needs to be tighten. -KCCO

 

Remove the inspection cover and see if the starter spur gear is actually meshing with the flywheel/flexplate teeth. If it's not, you'll get one "clank" as the spur gear hits the teeth on the flywheel/flexplate and that's all. If you keep trying it again and again, sometimes it'll move things around just enough to get them to mesh and it'll fire right up.

 

So would this consist of taking the starter apart and inspect the starter spur? And would just replacing the starter fix this problem?

 

I have the same issue with the 305 TPI in my 92Z. Sometimes I have to turn the key 3 or 4 times until the starter engages. never was a problem until I had to replace the starter with a rebuilt on. Ever since then, this may be an issue. Hot or cold, you never know. That said, sooner or later, it always starts....but it is a pain. Just that one loud "CLICK"....

 

Sounds like a bad solenoid to me. After many cycles of starting, the copper washer inside it will get galled and not make good contact to get the starter motor spinning. If you can jump the starter between the battery terminal and the field wire and it turns every time, that's you problem. Not sure about newer ones, but you used to be able to take the solenoid apart and flip the washer over so the contacts are hitting a fresh surface. Otherwise they are only around $15


Generic image from the web that was labled already. what can I say, I'm lazy.

 

Assumes your battery is charged well enough to turn the engine over , a flat battery or not enough juice to the starter ( bad connections / cables / etc ) will give the same symptoms
If you have the big heavy Delco starter you can do as suggested above and just turn over the contact washer in the solenoid to give another 100K worth of starting