Hey all, I don't know a whole lot about mechanical stuff on a car, so with that said, can anybody give me a clue what is happening here. My car won't start. It kinda gives a half turn, then the starter just clicks. Easy enough, however, after the half turn, there is a buzzing type sound coming from the rear of the car, almost like something is trying to move and can't or a line can't pressurize or something.....like I said, not really sure. And, to top it off, I can't get the car to shift back into park....it will got through 1, 2, D, N, but then gets stuck. I'm assuming trans, but really have no clue and the buzzing is really throwing me off. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Andy

 

Ok, fixed that...pulled off the shifter plate and made sure everything was tight, a couple of loose torx screws seem to have had everything out of whack with regards to that. In good shape with the shifting. -Andy

 

does it start now

 

Nope, still not starting. Got the buzzing sound when the key is in the on position, but still not starting...just get the half turn, then the clicking starter.

 

Via TheGreatJ:

"It could very easily be a VATS issue. Try this: take your key to Radio Shack and "try out" one of their multimeters to read the resistance from one side of the "chip" to the other. Then tell them you don't want the multimeter, but need a resistor with whatever value you came up with (or very close to it.) Go home and look at the bottom of the steering column. There will be an orange sleeve with 2 small white wires in it...disconnect the 2-pin connector that they run to and plug the resistor into the harness side of the connector. Crank the car. You have now successfully bypassed your Passkey system."

Good luck!

-Rippin

 

I don't have a chip in my key...guess I should've been more specific about the car. It is an 88 camaro, but the computer was pulled, so it's pretty much like a good old carbureated camaro. Got a small block out of a 70 Impala in it as far as I can tell. At any rate, there is no chip in my keys....any other ideas?

 

Be sure to check your battery too.

 

the clicking is normal as a matter of fact if it doesnt click with ignition on thats a bad thing (im assuming its coming from the fuel mix solenoid in the carb) mine does that too its suposed to it controlls the air fuel mix to a certain extent kinda like a poor man's fuel injection system. the starter issue sound like a low battery.

 

The buzzing is the fuel pump. Whoever swapped the carb motor in probably just left it hooked up and straightwired it to the ignition switch so they wouldn't have to drop the tank to pull it out. Assuming they put a pressure regulator on it, there's nothing wrong with this (in fact it's how my car is set up.)

When you try to start the car....you say it goes like 1/2 turn then clicks. Is it a single click or a repeated clicking? Does it keep clicking as long as you have the key turned to the "start" position? The first thing that comes to mind is a dead battery. The second thing is a loose/corroded battery cable. Check the battery terminals, clean them on principle (use a wire brush,) and also check the starter and block ground connections.


Rippin.....thanks for the reference.

 

I'm pretty sure it is the battery...I'm giving it the long charge and stopped it about an hour in and the car tried a little more. It is a 1/2 turn then repeated clicking, so I assume it just doesn't have enough juice to crank. I'll keep ya updated, but I think you guys are right. Thanks for the pointers, I'll definitely post here again if I run into problems. Thanks, Andy

 

Hey all, thanks for the help...turned out it was the battery, just took it off charge in the middle of the cycle to see how it was doing and it started on the first turn...back in business. Now only if it looked as good as it sounds, but I'm working on that. Thanks, Andy