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1989 Chevy Camaro starting poroblem

Tiny
STEVEN11891
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 CHEVROLET CAMARO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 114,000 MILES
My 1989 camaro rs used to have problems starting after it was driven for a while. I would turn the key and nothing would happen. I would have to wait 5 min or so for it to cool down so I could start it again. But recently it just wont start at all. I turn the key and nothing at all happens. The battery is charged and the lights can come on but it just wont try to tuen the engine over or do anything. I think it might be the starter but when I bought I was told it was a new starter. Im just wondering what the problem might be.
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Saturday, December 26th, 2009 AT 2:30 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Welcome to the forum, do you have a security system on the vehicle? A problem there, is a possibility. The purple wire at starter solenoid should be hot, with the key in the start position, is it?
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Saturday, December 26th, 2009 AT 2:45 PM
Tiny
BILL MARKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I have the same issue with my 89 camaro 2.8, have allready repaced my starter. Also having other issues with dash lights and headlights. I am looking at my grounds. It does the exact same thing after driving for an hour it wont do anything untill it cools off for 15 minutes sorry to jump your post Steve I hope we can get this figured out.
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Monday, December 28th, 2009 AT 3:36 PM
Tiny
BILL MARKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I checked the purple wire with a multimeter and nothing there when you turn the key to start pos. And Yes the stock security is still on the car, it is just the key with a resistor in it, and the security light does not come on when trying to start it. Any ideas will be appreciated.
For now I have rigged a seperate starter button under ther hood so when it acts up I'm not stranded.
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Monday, December 28th, 2009 AT 4:10 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Hi, is this an automatic, did you try cranking in neutral? Possible problem with neutral/gear select switch. Also there is a starter enable relay, part of the theft system, driver side kick panel. It receives two feed circuits from the ignition switch, both yellow wires. One voltage feed for the load side of relay, the other for the coil side of relay. The decoder module grounds the coil side of relay in order to energize. You will have to test when the problem is ongoing.
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Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 AT 9:21 AM
Tiny
BILL MARKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
It is an auto and I will try that next time it acts up, that is one I have had to drive out to rescue a couple family members on, our Jeeps are notoriuos for having to jam them into park sometimes to activate that switch Is there a way to bypass the anti theft module?


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/454833_89_camaro_2009_002_2.jpg

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Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 AT 10:31 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Not that I know of?
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 AT 9:40 AM
Tiny
BILL MARKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I beleive we have a winner, I was out tody delivering a starter to my son, (yeah when it rains it pours), and when I got there I tried to start it in park and got nothing so I put her in nuetral and she cranked right over. I will be replacing that asap.
Thanks and I hope this is the same fix for Steve
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 AT 11:33 AM
Tiny
JDL
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I know what you mean, when one of my kids has a car problem, I get a phone call. Goodluck
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 AT 11:53 AM
Tiny
STEVEN11891
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Ive tried starting it in neutral but it doesnt worjk still. It just plain wont start now. Ill have to go out and get stuff to test connections.
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Thursday, December 31st, 2009 AT 11:37 AM
Tiny
BILL MARKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Here is a picture of my switch the contacts don't look good I'm going to Napa to get a new one today. Notice the purple wire, it goes to the solenoid I believe. Have you tried a jump wire from your solenoid to your battery yet? And mine wouldn't start in nuetral when it was really warmed up either.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/454833_89_camaro_2009_003_1.jpg




https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/454833_89_camaro_2009_004_1.jpg



Well thats not it. Started fine then nothing again I'm going after the security system relay now.
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Thursday, December 31st, 2009 AT 1:09 PM
Tiny
BILL MARKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Found no continuity in one of my ground connections coming out of my steering colum. I pulled it apart and the connections looked fine so put back and it showed continuity so tried the key and it started. Don't ask why. Heres a pic of it. Ground is third from right black wire


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/454833_89_camaro_2009_006_1.jpg


Also found that someone had allready bypassed the resistor in the key. Heres where they added a resistor to the wiring.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/454833_89_camaro_2009_007_1.jpg


It was right above the connection I was checking.
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
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Hey, good job, glad you got it going. I tried to find a wiring diagram for your ignition switch, haven't found anything. Sometimes, it's hard for me to find info on older models.

If the theft system had a problem that didn't involve the pellet in the key or wiring in the column, that resistor wouldn't help anything.
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 AT 12:02 PM
Tiny
BILL MARKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Well its been two days and still starting. Steve I'd look into your ground connections or your security. I can't say for sure if it that resisitor they rigged wasn't loose. Good luck
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Thursday, January 7th, 2010 AT 9:21 AM

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