SS taking a long time to start up in nice warm FL - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BlkCamaroVert · 10-18-2021, 05:35 AM

The starting cycle is getting progressively longer and longer it seems. It always starts but it has to turn over for way too long. It used to fire right up. Yet if the engine is warm or if I restart it right away, the car fires up fine. What could be wrong? I replaced the wires with stock wires and the plugs are stock Delco Iridium performance plugs six months ago. After the new plugs and wires, it was perfect for a few months but has gotten progressively worse. It's showing no fault codes. Is it the fuel pump going bad or losing compression somewhere? I also smell fumes outside the car once in a great while. I've been blaming it on me not putting on the gas cap right but now I'm wondering if it's related.

PaulsSS · 10-18-2021, 06:06 AM

1st thing I would check is the plugs you put in, maybe you got fakes that are worn out already.

eLeSthree · 10-18-2021, 07:03 AM

Florida summers kill batteries. I would have someone hold a voltmeter on your battery terminals while you crank it up cold. See how low the voltage drops while cranking.

If your battery is 3 or 4 years old already, its probably time for a new one.

I have a battery tender on mine, since I dont use it very often.

1JEWLDSSRS · 10-18-2021, 04:13 PM

Yep, the batteries don't last long here in FL. Could be going slowly bad, and when the car sits in the sun and the trunk warms up the battery temp will warm up as well. And on the gas cap issue, if it wasn't put on correctly, you would get a message in on your dash stating "tighten gas cap", it is part of the evap system and it would sense a leak, mine did and I'm cammed and tuned, cap went bad.

BlkCamaroVert · 10-18-2021, 06:38 PM

I got a battery about 4 months ago from AAA. I can have them back out I'm sure. But I remember saying to myself back then that it didn't help much. It used to fire up instantly with a nice pop and growl for many years. It's just not right. It's like the fuel's not getting to the engine fast enough. There's no choke on a direct injection system is there? It reminds me of when an old-school choke won't engage.

1JEWLDSSRS · 10-19-2021, 09:01 AM

Have someone check your fuel pressure at the fuel rail.. My pump went bad after the cam swap.. Replaced it with a ZL1 pump.

KaBoom1701 · 10-19-2021, 09:35 AM

I'd also double check your main ground wire going to the engine block. These can become loose or corroded over time and cause hard starts.

BlkCamaroVert · 10-19-2021, 11:58 AM

When I start in the morning it does say, six cycles. Yet once it starts, even if I shut it down immediately, it starts right up instantly on the second start. Even when warm it starts instantly. Only the "very first" start in the morning does it keep cranking multiple cycles.

gtstorey · 10-19-2021, 02:26 PM

Sounds a fuel pump/pressure issue.

10-18-2021, 05:35 AM	#1
BlkCamaroVert Drives: '11 2SS/RS L99 Vert IO Interior Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: FL Posts: 296	SS taking a long time to start up in nice warm FL The starting cycle is getting progressively longer and longer it seems. It always starts but it has to turn over for way too long. It used to fire right up. Yet if the engine is warm or if I restart it right away, the car fires up fine. What could be wrong? I replaced the wires with stock wires and the plugs are stock Delco Iridium performance plugs six months ago. After the new plugs and wires, it was perfect for a few months but has gotten progressively worse. It's showing no fault codes. Is it the fuel pump going bad or losing compression somewhere? I also smell fumes outside the car once in a great while. I've been blaming it on me not putting on the gas cap right but now I'm wondering if it's related. Last edited by BlkCamaroVert; 10-18-2021 at 05:47 AM.

10-18-2021, 07:03 AM	#3
eLeSthree Drives: 2011 Camaro SS 6sp Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Drivers Seat Posts: 1,904	Florida summers kill batteries. I would have someone hold a voltmeter on your battery terminals while you crank it up cold. See how low the voltage drops while cranking. If your battery is 3 or 4 years old already, its probably time for a new one. I have a battery tender on mine, since I dont use it very often. __________________ 2011 Camaro SS---SOLD TMS Dart 427 FED M311s, ESS Tuning G4 Blower, DSX Triple FP Assembly, DSX FF, FIC1300, Mcleod RXT 1200HD, Edlebrock Pro Flo XT 1158whp 1017wtq. 2010 CTS-V A6 - "Stock" SOLD 630whp 658wtq 2024 F-150 RCSB 5.0 4x4 waiting for tunes...

10-18-2021, 04:13 PM	#4
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,402	Yep, the batteries don't last long here in FL. Could be going slowly bad, and when the car sits in the sun and the trunk warms up the battery temp will warm up as well. And on the gas cap issue, if it wasn't put on correctly, you would get a message in on your dash stating "tighten gas cap", it is part of the evap system and it would sense a leak, mine did and I'm cammed and tuned, cap went bad. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

10-19-2021, 09:01 AM	#6
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,402	Have someone check your fuel pressure at the fuel rail.. My pump went bad after the cam swap.. Replaced it with a ZL1 pump. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

10-19-2021, 09:35 AM	#7
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,630	I'd also double check your main ground wire going to the engine block. These can become loose or corroded over time and cause hard starts. __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

10-18-2021, 06:06 AM	#2
PaulsSS Drives: 15SS Camaro Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: US Posts: 345	1st thing I would check is the plugs you put in, maybe you got fakes that are worn out already.

10-18-2021, 06:38 PM	#5
BlkCamaroVert Drives: '11 2SS/RS L99 Vert IO Interior Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: FL Posts: 296	I got a battery about 4 months ago from AAA. I can have them back out I'm sure. But I remember saying to myself back then that it didn't help much. It used to fire up instantly with a nice pop and growl for many years. It's just not right. It's like the fuel's not getting to the engine fast enough. There's no choke on a direct injection system is there? It reminds me of when an old-school choke won't engage.

10-19-2021, 11:58 AM	#8
BlkCamaroVert Drives: '11 2SS/RS L99 Vert IO Interior Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: FL Posts: 296	When I start in the morning it does say, six cycles. Yet once it starts, even if I shut it down immediately, it starts right up instantly on the second start. Even when warm it starts instantly. Only the "very first" start in the morning does it keep cranking multiple cycles.

10-19-2021, 02:26 PM	#9
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,146	Sounds a fuel pump/pressure issue.