ever since i have had my camaro (about 8 months now), the starter hasn't worked right. sometimes, when you turn the key, it makes that noise like the solenoid is bad but that's not the problem. I replaced the solenoid and that didn't fix the problem. the starter (and solenoid) tested just fine on the bench. i just checked the little relay under the driver's side kick panel yesterday, it seems to be ok. it will engage though, you just have to "rock" the key a few times. what could be my problem? what is there between that relay and the solenoid? by the way, this is on a 91 RS.

 

could be stripped teath on the flywheel. If the person that had it before you, if anyone liked to start the car, forget the car is running, and then try and start it again (my sister's done this plenty of times), it could have messed up the teath. jack the car up and take off the flywheel cover, you should be able to look in there with a flashlight and see where the starter engages. it's always in one of 6 places since the engine actually stops right before TDC on a cylinder. If any are missing, that would cause the starter to engauge and spin, but since it's not getting full grip, the car wont turn over without some messing around.

 

2_point8_boy hit that one right on the head.

here's something i had a problem with. a few years back i was having a problem where the car wouldn't start. you would turn the key and nothing would happen. all the accessories would turn on and thats it. after doing it a couple times and/or turning the steering wheel it would start. then eventually i was able to take the key out and the car would keep running. it turned out being a combination of the ingitions switch and the sterring knuckle located in the sterring column. my cars been great, except of all the work done in the column. just a heads up.

 

Compared too what you just said I find that a very confusing statement.

 

I was just saying that the fact that if the flywheel is worn his car may exhibit the symptoms that AM91Camaro_RS is having.

On the other hand, I had starting problems that may make you think the starter is dead, but instead it was the ignition coil and etc.

I edited a bit, maybe its easier to read. Just another possible place to look.

 

no, it's not the flywheel, the starter doesn't always engage but when it does, the car fires right away. and the ignition (coil,...) is fine. it's either the ignition swith or some wiring between the switch and the starter itself. just thought i'd see if anyone might have experienced the same thing i am experiencing but it doesn't sound like it.

 

Check your bendix which is the gear inside the starter. That seems to be the weak part in our starters.

 

i have had the same problem like i said above. i would turn the key and nothing would happen. then all of a sudden it would start. this happened twice and here's what was fixed.

1) ignition switch and steering knuckle
2) security wires were faulty that touch the chip on our keys (90+) you can tell if this is your problem because the security light will not light up on you dash board.

both those problems caused everything to turn on, but the starter wouldn't turn. then if i was patient it would. eventually it just never started at all.

 

VATS..................