Well I just bought a 94 ls 4dr with 118XXXmiles. It runs great and I have done and have gotten done a few little maintaince problems, and I just got back home from an 1800 mile roundtrip with no problems.....except sometimes I turn the key with the clutch fully depressed and nothing happens until a few seconds later when the car finally turns over. When I initially turn the key my interior lights do their thing and the radio pops on, but the car doens't attempt to start until a few seconds of leaving the key turned. Is this a problem with the starter??

 

have you checked sparkies? when is the last time you replaced spark plug wires/distributor cap/distributor rotor?

 

spark plugs were replaced right after i bought the car (about 2000 miles ago)

I have not changed wires or any other of the ignition components. what do I check for just general wear and tear or what?? The car runs fine once it starts, it has no bogging while accelerating in any gear and cruises pretty smooth.

 

hm... i have never heard of anyone complaining about that type of problem with their starters.. hm... usually a bad or failing starter jus requires multiple tries but thats the first time i've ever heard nething like dat. hmm... have you checked the wiring on your starter?

 

sounds like a problem with the starter. same with my car. sometimes it wouldn't start right away, but after a couple of try the starter would kick on and the car would start right up. so i replaced the starter and it hasn't done it since.

 

ok well I have too questions?

1) I will check the connections on everything today, is there anything else that i should look at and is there anything else that tis could be attributed to...I dont want to get tunnel vision.

2) If it is the starter, how much is the part and on a 1-10 scale how difficult is the install? I am not highly mechanical, but I am willing to get in there and give it the ole college try.

TIA

 

starter is very simple. just disconnect the battery, then pull of one wire and then take off the nut holding the other wire on and then unbolt the starter and pull it out. you might have to remove the intake. then put the new one in and reconnect the battery.

 

If its your starter then hitting it with a screwdriver or somthing will make it start. Maybe next time open your hood first, have a friend ready... When you try to start, have him rap it. If that makes a difference then it sounds like the starter.

Maybe your ignition switch? You can try wiggling the key while you hold it in the 'start' position. If this makes any difference then you can replace the switch.

Maybe a flaky clutch interlock switch (manual) or shifter interlock (auto). Either way, pump the clutch pedal just a bit, or push the shift lever forward so its 'farther' into Park. Especially watch the PRND... lamps in the cluster while you do this. See if this makes any difference. If so you can replace the clutch switch or adjust the shift interlock.

 

thanks for your replies. the teg is a 5speed, and today it has been doing well (the problem has not occured and I have been out running a few errands). In some cases it almost feels like the way that i hold the key effects the startup, not 100% on this, but I will keep an eye on it. This problem doesn't seem to be too urgent I just dont want something to crap out on me when I need it not to crap out. Thanks again.