electrical issue

[truekoa]

Lately when the camaro is parked and I go to start it, it will blink and stutter as if the battery is dead.

At first I thought my battery had actually died because the first time it happened I was listening to the radio in the car for about 5 mins or so. But just today I went to start it up after school and it gave me the same problem.

Things ive checked:

-The battery is good for sure, its only a couple of months old.
-My ground connections in the engine bay are clean but I will clean them again.
-I'm thinking its my alternator, I noticed on mine there is only one wire coming out of it while other fbodies that I've seen have three(it was like this when I purchased the car). I can pull the alternator off and take it to a store to get tested right?

If it is indeed the alternator what choices do I have? I believe I can move to another stock one or one off a LS1 car?

thanks everyone..

I will get some pics of the alternator wires tomorrow.

[ssms5411]

Re: electrical issue

You should have a 3 wire plug in on it and a 8 ga. off the rear that goes to a bolt, I don't think LS1 will fit plus they would be the same 105 amp unless you go with a 3.8 high output one. But the 3 wire plug is what tells how much it is charging the system. Might be your problem right there.

[flamingchicken]

Re: electrical issue

my car is a 2000 and has a one wire plug, with a 8 ga. battery wire.

its super easy to get the alt off, take it to o'reillys and get it checked out. its FREE

[ssms5411]

Re: electrical issue

I guess its the 96-97's with the 3 wire plugin into the ALT., thats weird it only has the 8 gauge though, unless the volts are done through the PCM.

[flamingchicken]

Re: electrical issue

I guess its the 96-97's with the 3 wire plugin into the ALT., thats weird it only has the 8 gauge though, unless the volts are done through the PCM.

it has the three plug, but only one wire going out of it.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: electrical issue

My car used to do the exact same thing... I'm trying to think what solved it.. I know I didn't get any new stuff. I cleaned up my engine ground as well as my positive distribution center and the battery connections themselves. I can't think of anything else I did for the problem, but I know it went away.

I'll check back if I think of anything.

[bward09]

Re: electrical issue

has same problem and all it was, was next to the fuse box where the accessory terminals is for positive power, the nut had just come loose therefore it would make contact a little but not enough for the car to start and it sounded like a dead battery but as soon as i found it and tightened the bolt it was perfectly fine

[truekoa]

Re: electrical issue

update-

I pulled the alternator today and got it tested at autozone and it passed. Another thing when I pulled it, I forgot to remove the plug with 1 wire coming out of it so now the wire is loose...

What do you guys think?

[Unique96Camaro]

Re: electrical issue

has same problem and all it was, was next to the fuse box where the accessory terminals is for positive power, the nut had just come loose therefore it would make contact a little but not enough for the car to start and it sounded like a dead battery but as soon as i found it and tightened the bolt it was perfectly fine

i hope that works on mine cause its doing the exact same thing

[Timmy]

Re: electrical issue

anything new with this issue??? i have the same problem. car will start fine 2-3 times then it will just click like the battery is dead on the fourth attempt. ive changed the ignition switch on the steering column, the battery, the starter and the computer. i've cleaned all the connections to the battery and the distribution center. I'm so frustrated with it, i almost sold it! lol HELP

[truekoa]

Re: electrical issue

I fixed my problem by replacing the alternator and the plug that plugs into the alternator.

Starts up fine everytime now.

[Timmy]

Re: electrical issue

im getting really frustrated with this thing right now. new battery, new starter, new ignition switch, disconnected every cable from the battery, alternator, starter and every ground. cleaned them and reconnected everything. still wont start. who wants a camaro that runs 14.0's that has a connection problem that you could probably fix in a half hour? anyone.

[truekoa]

Re: electrical issue

So it doesn't turn on at all? no crank or anything?

[Timmy]

Re: electrical issue

it just clicks. once every 50 attempts, it will fire right up like nothing was ever wrong with it. i can push start it and it will drive great. it pulls harder now than it did when i ran 13.99.

[truekoa]

Re: electrical issue

Check the plug that goes into your alternator, maybe replace it, you will have to re-splice it back.

Even after I replaced my alternator it would start up fine, but still click every now and then, I eliminated it to that plug that goes in the alternator, re-spliced it with a new plug and problem solved.

Might not be your case but its a start.