So Ive been having this problem since before my engine swap I thought I got it to stop but it just started happening again. I have a 1990 RS camaro 305 TBI. The car will start up normally on a cold start without any problems and I can drive it around, once I get to my destination and shut it off for a few minutes then come back out to start it it won't start, no click to the starter but has full power. It tends to do it during the summer months too. I swapped it out with another starter thinking that was the problem and still did it, if I waited around 10 to 20 minutes it would crank back up or if someone let me get a jump it would start right up. then I installed a jeggs high performance starter and it stopped until march and did it again so I got the alarm system updated because it had a very old aftermarket alarm on it and I thought maybe the antitheft was going off, after getting the new alarm it didn't do it again so I figured that was the end of that; it happened twice in the past three days security light is on so vats is working so that's ruled out. I've been looking up NSS, ignition starter switch or starter enable relay symptoms to see if any of those components could be the culprit but haven't found anything. Does anyone know of an issue like this where car starts then doesn't turn over for causing you to wait 20 minutes or until you can get a jumpstart?

 

Heat soaked starter can do that. A cheap heat shield can fix it if that is the issue.

Also, maybe test your battery, that would be an odd battery problem but if a jump gets you going its worth a test.

 

The other night I drove it about a mile down the road to the gas station and it did it, I thought it was heat soak months ago but I'm getting curveball symptoms

 

Is everything basically stock? Heat soak on a stock isn't common, I have actually never seen heat soak be an issue on a stocker. Headers on the other hand, heat soak is common.

You could wire up a solenoid jumper switch to test the start circuit, then drive around. Verify the problem is occurring then test with the jumper switch. If it cranks with the jumper and not the key then you have other electrical issues or a separate problem. If neither works but a jump works I would still lean towards heat soak.

 

Welcome to TGO!

This sounds like a classic case of heat soaked starter solenoid to me, especially if you have headers, but even still. I had the same symptoms on my '71 Chevelle when I was young. Hot: no start, not even a click but full power to headlights/dash/radio etc. Wait a half hour with the hood open or get a boost and boom it'd start.

If you have headers a heat shield would be good as noted, but - I first would ensure the connections are clean and tight at the starter/solenoid and battery. If that doesn't help you may want to replace the solenoid and or battery too.

In a different car I found that the wiring harness had been cut and crimp connected back together between the solenoid and the ignition switch by a PO and replacing that mess really helped with starting issues. Good luck with your fix.

 

can a starter get heat soaked from like 2 minutes of driving though? The engine didn't even get close to operated temp

 

That'd be unusual. If there were other contributory problems combined with a high ambient temp, maybe? Could simply be the solenoid is done.

Verify all connections at starter and battery are clean/wire brushed.