Rep Power: 0

Hey guys. My 94 Lt1 Camaro has been giving me some issues lately. First, my keys jammed up and I couldn't get it to turn over. They just wouldn't turn forward in the ignition. I finally got it to turn forward after fighting with it and everything seemed ok. Greased up the key and it worked nicely. Then about 2 days later it died.

The key turned to the first forward position and the radio turned on and the windows work, but at the next position the gauges didn't turn on, and the "dinging" didn't slow down. Turning all the way forward to turn over the motor I just heard a little click. This click was coming from the ABS relay under the hood in the fuse box. The radio turns off when I move the key all the way forward to turn the car over, but nothing happens, just this little click. Gauges remained dead.

I had the car towed home to work on it (about 20 miles)and this morning went to go push it to a spot where I could work on it better. I tried starting it before I put it in neutral and sure enough, it started! Just like it should. What the hell? I don't want it dying again somewhere. I had been through all the checking of fuses and stuff, but now I can't really trouble shoot it. Any ideas???? I don't want to get stranded again. I had thought that I had broken the rod in the ignition. But apparently I haven't. Help...please...I love this car. I want to trust her again. lol.

FYI, when I had it towed, it was on a flatbed and to get into position on my driveway we released it from a raised position and had it coast to a stop. Needless to say, it slammed onto the ground hard when I coasted it into place. I think that may have knocked some sense into whatever was messed up. If you understand what I am saying. And yes I had hit the starter already with a hammer, but I knew that it wouldn't work because the gauges weren't coming up anyways.

Sorry so long but I wanted to explain fully.

 
Rep Power: 1121

sounds like an ignition switch going bad

 
Rep Power: 817

dunno but mine always had issues starting but it was a 6er

 
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I had the same problem with my other 94z,it was the chip on the key.

 
Rep Power: 694

i had a problem getting my key to turn also, turns out im an idiot cus the wheel was locked, sometimes you have to turn the wheel slightly to release the steering lock to allow you to turn the key.

as for the starting problem. mine did the same thing where you would turn the key and it would just click and die. what happened on mine was that the negative battery cable bolt was coming loose. i replaced the bolt and cleaned everything up with a wire brush and tightened it up, havent had a problem since.

 
Rep Power: 881

could be a number of things- the key could be bad like was said- the ignition could be going bad as well, as could the solenoids in the linkage that tell the car that it is park or neutral and that 'its ok' to start.

I would lean more towards the electronics in the shift linkage in that you said that it started right up in neutral but wouldn't do anything in park. If it still won't start in park try taking off the center console and seeing if anything appears either loose or broken. It might end up being a simple fix.

 
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Actually, the car wasn't in neutral when it started. I was going to put it in neutral, but I didn't have too. When I turned the key forward I saw that the gauges came up, so I started the car. Easier then pushing.

I am going to take the car for short trips for the next couple of days after work. I will only be turning the car off in my driveway. Maybe I can hit a bump and get it to screw up again. If it happens again and I fix it I'll post what happened. Thanks everybody.

 
Rep Power: 685

Pretty much exactly what I was gonna say. I have had both of these things happen to me, except in my case the battery had a bad connection at the positive instead of the negative. I thought it was the clutch safety switch at first because I had just put a new clutch in.

EDIT: oh wow. Holy old thread. Sorry bout that.