Hello everybody, I have a problem with my 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA, 305 TPI with automatic transmission...

For a couple of days, my car been hard to start, when cold or hot... It turn over, but very slowly, and then start But tonight, when returning from work, it started, I got back home, stoped the car for a few minutes, went to start it again and never started... Turned very slowly and then almost nothing. Waited for about 1 hour 30 minutes, it still doesn't start. Maybe it will start tomorow. But I wan't to know what you guys think. Maybe you had the same problem. Also, in the last couple of days, when I tried starting it, it made a strange noise when cranking.

The battery been tested and put out about 400Amp... So it's not that... When I start the car, the voltage goes down to 9V...

 

eww... i am afraid I might be heading in that direction! Mine started that saturday, being hard to start. Then sunday at the F-Body shootout it wouldn't start at all a couple of times, but when it did it put up a good fight. Today it started alright 4 times, but still a little difficult. Does it start eny easier if you jump it? Mine starts fine if I get a jump from someone making me suspect battery (had some problems on an injector install saturday and killed the battery, and have had the hard starting problem since). My voltage looks fine but the starter does turn a bit slower than it used to, but since yours checks fine I don't know. I haven't tested my battery yet.

 

Any other can help us? Someone think my problem is the starter?

 

I had the same problem and replaced the starter and all is well now. Turn the key and it turns over and starts the first time now.
You can always have the starter checked.

 

Been to the garage today, the guy said the starter won't come out unless he unbolt the exhaust. He is right? Said one of the bolt broke too... Ah man, don't know if I'm gonna go there again.

 

Exhaust manifold bolts are prone to being rusty. a competent mechanic should be able to resolve the problem. Yes, in some cases you have to drop the exhaust a bit to physically get it out of there.

Might be a good time to upgrade to the LT1 starter. Saves 10lbs, is smaller and generally performs better. Do a search for more info on the LT1 starter swap.

 

400 amps/9 volts when cranking sounds low to me. How did you test the battery? Did you put a load on it? Take the battery to a parts store and ask then to charge it and then put a load on it. I'd bet the thing is bad. Also some parts stores have morons working there. Ask specifically if they have a machine capable of doing a load test.

 

Got back from the shop... The car start so good now!

But they broke one of the nut when removing the exhaust... So it took about 4 hours to do the whole process to remove and replace the starter! Cost me 214$! (Canadian)

Now it makes a strange noise when I start the car. Like a whistle or something... The guy told me that a part of the old starter was broken so the gear or something was not aligned and now it is a little off with the new starter. He said it should go away with time.

What do you guys think?

 

I think that shop is giving you a pile of BS. Once the starter is replaced it should be like new with no strange sounds. Its not a part that wears in.

 

So what could be this noise? I know it's from something in this place it didn't do that before. Isn't there some gears in there or something?