Yeah the pick up looks like a circle on the dist. the wires from the pick up plug into the module. you gotta put the elecrode jelly on the module so it won't short out the pick up......im pretty sure you can get the jelly at napa or pep boys or somewhere.....i got it from my old job because i use to work at a gas station. mess around with the starter then try my idea if it doesn't work.

ok i got the wire tester and there seems to be power going to all the starter wires when the key is in the start position. i checked the wires going to the modual on the distributor and only the connector with the 2 wires(red and white i think) gets power. the second connector with 4 wires(white purple brown black/red) gets no power in the start or run key positions. i got a picture of the conectors but i duno how to post it but i can email it to u if it would help.

Yeah send me an e-mail (V8pwrdolds@aol.com) I bet you the pick up is bad. the last time you got it started was probably all you had left. that happened to my car and that was it....send the pic let me see if its the same thing.

sent

Kinda hard to tell.....let me check my dist. and see how it is again. when you got to start does anything happen with the key in the start position or run position? Does the key cylinder move freely when turning to start? another thing i forgot to factor in was maybe you ignition cylinder may be broken as well...(lets leave that for option 2)

key turns fine with no problem. when its turned, nothing happens. i checked the four wires in teh connector on my other camaro and got no light from them either so thats not the problem, monday im guna disconect the harness from the firewall and make sure everything is still clean and making good contact....other then that i duno wat else to do and the car season is here.....

really.....im starting to think that it actually might be the cylinder....i still think it may be the pick up and module as well. In the begining of march i gutted the inside of my camaro because i ordered new carpet and a new driver seat.....long story short i had everything together and while it was inside my buddys garage i started the car for 2 seconds and he bitched saying we were ganna die.....so i shut it off......when i went to put the radio on....NOTHING....tried starting it....NOTHING i bought a new key cylinder for $10...put that in....NOTHING.... what actually was the problem was the little gear that moves when you turn the key came loose... my buddy tightened it up and started right up. Those are the only things i can actually think of thats wrong with it. I'd have to actually see the problem to give you the actual answer....let me know if the wires are the problem

nope my radio works as well as all the power stuff. i took out the distubutor and turned the key to see if the starter moved at all, it didnt, should it still work without the distibutor in? if it should i guess i found my problem, is there a way to test the starter?

if theres juice...it will turn....might be something with the ignition system its self thats fried....somethings def wrong. ok....if the pick up/module went bad you'd have crank but no spark. if you have no crank gotta be electrical or something with the starter or even some thing in side the coloum......i don't know how to exactly test the starter......maybe a stupid ground wire got fried

The starter is attached with two bolts.....take it off and have it tested. If there is something clicking in the engine bay when you turn the key, obviously it's not the ignition cylinder. Sounds like a starter solenoid to me. I'm willing to bet that your distributor is just fine.

- Justin

yea sounds liek the starter, i climbed under there n smacked it with a wrench and got it to click once or twice per smack then i had someone else turn the key while under the car and it would click and shoot sparts out of the motor terminal. how much is a starter n should i jus get a new one and give it a shot?

They start around $35.00 and go up well over $100 depending on brand.

- Justin

ok well im a little confused...theres the little piece with the wires going to it(starter motor?) and then theres the big thing, might be the solinoid? which do i need to get?

The starter assembly is composed of two cylinder shaped objects. One big (starter) one little (starter solenoid). They are attached to each other. Any starter that you buy in a parts store will come with both pieces.

- Justin

you can buy a button to start the car under the hood i think you turn the key on and hook it up to the starter and positive on the battery and just push the button there like twenty bucks. just a thought

true if you're getting clicking then its not the cylinder but if nothing is happening after you put the starter in and it just cranks without turning on--then no spark. buy the starter i think mine ran $60ish (i don't remember)

yea got the starter it was 66 but i get 15 back when i bring the core in so not to bad, its halfway installed, i ran outa time n had to run to work so tomarrow we'll see what happens....

ok starter is in and its back to square one, just keeps cranking and backfireing/popping/hissing. the timing is really off and even with the wires reversed it wont start like before, i tried the thing suggested earlier with removing the drivers valve cover and the dist. and cranking until both the #1 valves are closed, but they never close at the same time help plesae ive lost allll patience!

If they never close at the same time, then you have some kind of freak camshaft in there. Both valves should be closed during the compression stroke. Are you turning the motor over by hand and watching the rockers?

- Justin

turnin it over with the key and watchin, does this make the split second there both closed go by to fast?

how do i turn it by hand?

I've never tried it but i've heard about this.....take a pry bar and go to the center pulley and there should be bolts there that if you get the pry bar to grip then put all your power into it & turn....i've heard that could work...BUT I'VE NEVER TRIED IT so don't get mad at me if it doesn't work lol

Stick a breaker bar (or a big ratchet) on the crank bolt, turn it till the intake on #1 opens and then closes.

- Justin

the intake would be the more forward one? and the exhaust the back one?

after that set the dist to the number one spot and give it a shot?

I don't remember off the top of my head, but look at where the exhaust port is....the valve directly above it is the exhaust, the other one is the intake.

- Justin