Hard Start Issues

[2013ZL1FUN]

My car cranks fine, whether it is cold, warm or hot. It just randomly won't start!

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by 2013ZL1FUN

My car cranks fine, whether it is cold, warm or hot. It just randomly won't start!

What’s the interval between random starts?

[2013ZL1FUN]

Vary random, sometimes the very next time. Like if I drive somewhere and stop at a gas station, it may take 3 or 4 tries to get it to start. Or maybe it just fires up. Sometimes it won't start the first time I go to drive it, say after sitting for a week or two. Or maybe it does start. It hasn't left me stranded, it just won't always start when I want it to. Keep in mind my car is a hobby car, not a daily driver. Always garaged, usually have the battery maintainer hooked up, but not always.

[camguynj]

First check all the battery and stater grounds. Assuming they’re ok it could be there’s a bad spot on the starter solenoid which will cause intermittent start problems. I’ll assume it’s the original stater going on 10yrs old. Have AutoZone check it for free

[2013ZL1FUN]

Yeah I have checked and cleaned grounds. Maybe hooking up an additional ground would work? I really don't want to unhook and remove the starter. Alot of work for an old guy like me with tendinitis?

[2013ZL1FUN]

I did take the battery back to where I bought it. They tested it and said it has 805 cca and 12.6 volts. However when I use my battery/charging system tester, it only show 380 cca when hooked up and says to replace battery. A other note: when I can't start the car, if I hook up my jump starter the car starts right up.

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by 2013ZL1FUN

I did take the battery back to where I bought it. They tested it and said it has 805 cca and 12.6 volts. However when I use my battery/charging system tester, it only show 380 cca when hooked up and says to replace battery. A other note: when I can't start the car, if I hook up my jump starter the car starts right up.

Where did you test the battery… under the hood or the trunk. If under the hood make sure you use the ground stud or a good ground, bolts on frame is what is use. I first test the bolt with a multi meter to make sure I know where to connect the battery analyzer clips as I would also get low test results only to find out my connection location wasn’t good enough.

[2013ZL1FUN]

As far as bad spots on the starter/solenoid, seems like that wouldn't matter in my situation, as the car always turns over. It just won't start and run. Sometimes it seems like it started, but it doesn't. I don't exactly feel the term "dies" is appropriately used here. But it just doesn't/didn't start.

[0stones0]

What about fuel pressure?

[2013ZL1FUN]

Good question, I have no way to test that, at least not on a modern Camaro such as this ZL1. I suppose I will have to learn! Is there a port on a fuel rail that I would hook up a pressure tester to? Someone please advise me.

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by 2013ZL1FUN

Yeah I have checked and cleaned grounds. Maybe hooking up an additional ground would work? I really don't want to unhook and remove the starter. Alot of work for an old guy like me with tendinitis?

Adding an additional ground is a remedy for starter heat soak problems which you don’t have
based on your symptoms. Have multiple starts checked by AutoZone with a multi meter.

[FasNuf]

You said you're car is totally stock including the tune?

[2013ZL1FUN]

Yes I am totally stock, no tune. Original owner. Car has approx 16K miles.

[Joe.G]

My Honda accord would do this to me, Nothing helped I even tried ether/starter fluid to try and get it to fire. Car would turn over just fine and if I let it sit for a half HR or so it would start. It would do it at the most random times and it did not matter the temp. I owned that car for 16 Years, Once I figured it out I never had the problem again and the problem was a old battery even though it seemed to turn the car over just fine. I highly suggest before going crazy try another battery.