I am from Illinois, taking a vacation in Florida, passing Cocoa Beach town where my brother and I stayed overnight. My brother's Camarto Z-28 gave up on us. When I turn the key, there is no power in the gages, nothing lights up. The head light's and door windows still work, but everything else is dead. Bought new battery, but still no help. Seems like some electrical problem. Checked all fuses, they are good. Yesderday same thing happened, but after playing with key for a couple times the car started. My guess is that the ignition solenoid went bad, I did buy new already, but I don't want to change it unless I know that it's bad. There is one more thing- we have wired electricity from ignition fuse for the fans, so that the car would work cooler. The fans worked for 6 months, but yesterday after the car died, the car blew the 10A ignition fuse, so I put in insted a 25A ignition fuse, and everything worked fine for 1 day. No electrical power goes to the ignition fuse. I am guessing that it is ignition solenoid is bad since when the last time I tried to start the car, it was very hard to move the key, and after my brother used some power and turned it, the car was dead. Also, it maybe PCM too?. Do have tools with me, have quite a bit of experience, with a little help the car might come alive again

 

Sounds like something is grounding out... maybe that wire you linked up for the fans.. trace it... and see whaty ou find... that blown fust thing is a sure sign.

 

Could be the ignition switch. Try flipping the key back and forth until you can get it to light up the gauges and idiot lights. There is an ignition switch replacement guide on my Tech Page that might help in your situation. Tough thing to happen when you are on the road.

 

Sh*t happens whens least expected . I disconnected both wires that were used for fans. Cannot get gauge lights to light up. Is there any test to see if it is the ignition switch? Any other ideas. Thank's for helping,

Tomas

 

Spend some time looking for the problem. Checked the fusible links, and fuses one more time. Also, if I turn the lights on and turn the key, nothing happens to the head lights. In the following thread I found that I could check for voltage in somw yellow wire: "If the yellow wire shows 12v the the ignition switch is fine" (thread is bellow).

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...gnition+switch

Where is that yellow line located? I do have an ommeter

Thanks, Tomas

 

I'd have to agree with shoebox on this one. Mine did this to me awhile back, i replaced the ignition switch and the harnesses (they were burned up).. all good since then

 

Is the ignition wiring harness part number like that of Ignition Switch Blue Connector in Shoebox's webpage?

1993-2002 ignition switch GM part # AC Delco part #
Auto Trans 26036235 D1473C
Manual Trans 1990116 D1405B
Ignition Switch Blue Connector Pigtail 12102602 PT289
Ignition Switch Black Connector Pigtail 12102603 PT290

 

So you replaced a 10 amp fuse with a 25 amp? That is not a good idea.
I would trace all wiring and components leading to that fuse, you probably
smoked something. Then replace with a 10 amp fuse.

If needed, unhook your wiring of the fans.

 

Not sure what you are asking, but the pigtails are the connectors with terminals and short length of wire.

 

10 bears and 1 day later with just 2.5 hours of work the car is running like a champ again . I guess all that mechanical experience is starting to pay off. The problem was like Shoebox said- ignition switch, and his website is a salvation place for camaros . Thanks Shoebox for helping in hard times. Still got to see NASA center, Fort Lawdendale, Miami, and the Islands, and hopefully my brother's z-mobile will make safelly back home to Illinois.