Hey guys,

My 94 Z is having some weird issues today. It all started yesterday, I went out to the store and on the drive to the store the car was fine. When I started it back up to go home, I noticed a strange sound, kind of like the sucking sound that the CAI makes, but louder. I checked and couldn't really find where it was coming from. Then I got out on the road and I was on a road I usually travel about 40-45 on and I glanced down at my speedo and it said I was going 60.....I knew that was not possible and then it just drops back down to the speed I was actually going (~45) and the strange sound went away, although I could still catch a whiff of a very faint burning smell (and it was sweet smelling, different from other electrical burns I've smelt). Well I hadn't touched the car since yesterday, went to start it and nothing but the starter clicked it would not turn over, the lights and radio and all were fine and my voltmeter read ~11 V. Tried to start it about 5 times and same result everytime. So just for the hell of it I tried it again about 30 mins later and it started first time! So I track down my roommate cause I want to drive it but wanted someone to follow me just in case.....go to start it and nothing but a click again! I got a feeling its the starter but I'm really hoping its not, just put one in a year and a half ago and I remember it being expensive. Any ideas, this has me totally confused. Thanks for your help, and sorry it was so long but I wanted to give you guys all the info,

Derek

 

Tap the starter with a hammer a few times when it does that. If it starts then replace it.

 

Forgot to mention that I just replaced the opti last January with a new AC Delco unit, so I am fairly confident thats not the problem,

Derek

 

hey man i had the same problem like 2 weeks ago..i thought it was my starter going out or my fuel pump..but ti wasnt either...after trying to start my car a few times my ingition cylinder got stuck so i figured my ignition cylinder went out...so i go ahead by one of those and a IGNITION SWITCH and i 1st replaced the switch and then i put my key in my old cylinder to see if it fixed the problem and it did..so i took back my new iginition cylinder and got my money back..but after i put on my new switch i havent had any problems with the starter nor n e thing else..i had twitching guages just like you and i got a 3-4 volts increase on my voltage meter...i was VEEEEEEERRRRRRRYYYYY........

well good luck man also..you can get the switch from a gm dealership for around 40 bucks!! kinda easy to put in..let me know if you want to go ahead and do that and they may be the problem...

 

Well I have not been able to get my car restarted since yesterday and I really cannot check the starter b/c the car is parked in a gravel driveway uphill, I can't get up under there to tap it with a hammer or check the connections. But I have noticed a couple other things happening when I try to crank it. The starter solenoid clicks, the lights do not dim and the emergency brake light and the low traction light come on when I turn the key. Also, when I turn the key it makes the air bag light blink for about 5 seconds and then it goes away. This is leading me in the ignition switch direction as I've searched just about every post on this board about cars not starting and it seems to be that ignition switch failures make the dash lights do weird things, but then again a lot of people have said that if the starter solenoid is just clicking then it is either the starter itself or starter connections. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I need to get this fixed ASAP. Thanks again,

Derek

 

i had same problems as you but for the blinking air bag thats normal..the weird thing about the dash stuff is like twicthing guages and dash lights not comming on...my starter wouldnt start nither nor turn the engine over....go get the switch replaced..that might be the reason! and how old is the car!!

 

I'm not talking about when I turn the key to the AUX position, it is when I turn the key to crank it, thats when the lights come on and the air bag light flashes, I know that it flashes when you turn it to AUX and it still does that as normal. Thanks,

Derek

 

arrrrrrrrgg......im saying that i had the same problem with the starting thing..this was my prob (i would turn the igintion on and all i would hear was click click click...starter wasnt turning over the engine...after trying that a few tiems it would eventually work...then after that problem started another started accuring..i would turn my car on then like 2 sec after starting it would all the sudden DIE...and it did this like 5 times in a row...so i was like hmmm....whats the deal...then after that started another problem accured as the guagues would twitch..they would go from 30-60mph voltage would drop then go all the way back up, oil would go wacko...the whole cluster was freaked...then after those problems started one last and finale problem accured when i couldnt even turn my ignition on..it would be stuck...so i found out it was the switch replaced it and everyhing work GREAT!! i even had more voltage than i use too....cause i always thought i had a voltage problem cause of the pullies i have on my car!! well hope this cna help!!
randy

 

Crazy95Z28, what do you mean by ignition switch?

 

the iginition switch sits on top of your steering colum!! it controls alot of things...here is a tech oage on how to replace it and what it can cause if the switch is bad!! http://csce.uark.edu/~jgbertr/rb/ign...itch_repl.html
have fun reading!!!

 

Thanks for your help, got a new AC Delco switch on the way, would be really nice if it fixes the problem since its only 20 bucks.

Derek

 

good luck...i bought mine from the gm dealer..it was like 40 bux..but o well!! good luck again...if it doesnt work im sorry but at least it was only 20 bux..now it may be a tuffy puttin it back on..i suggest 2-3 people for your help puttin ghtat steering colum back in!!

 

Randy,

I just got my connectors off of the ignition switch and by visual inspection the switch and the connectors look fine(no heat damage like shown on shoebox's page). Did yours have visible heat damage or did it look normal. Thanks,

Derek

 

hey derek...na i really didnt have n e heat damage but the igintion switch would stick....and it wouldnt move...so maybe it did have heat damage..i can take a pic of it if youd like and i can send it to you...sorry i didnt respond asap..i was in calss till 10 and just got home about 30 min ago...if you have aol aim my s/n is Northernlights87 you can im me n e time...let me know!!
randy