Intermittent starting issue

BayStreet510 · 08-11-2018, 04:13 PM

So it’s a 2016 SS. It runs great. No issues. Sometimes when I start it, the starter sounds like it’s having a hard time. The cranking sound will get super slow and even pause for a second in total silence mid crank then turn the motor over. It’s never failed to start and the battery is new.

Dealer said that’s just how it is. Is this normal? It makes me nervous sometimes thinking that it will fail to start. Would an aftermarket high-performance starter help this?

BayStreet510 · 08-13-2018, 01:31 AM

81 views and not one reply, wow what a great and helpful board!

SSDan · 08-13-2018, 06:21 AM

I don't think its because no one cares but more so that this issue has been posted numerous times and no one has a definitive answer to give. Solutions that may or may not help have been battery replacements, starter replacements, wrapping starter with heat shield and battery cable replacements. To date the results for these remedies has been a mixed bag.

I have this issue any time I have a hot start after a series of short trips such as the second or third stop at the bank or a store where the car is only off for a few minutes. So far I have had some very slow cranks but it has always found a way to start. It does not give me confidence in the car's ability to start though. I try to arrange my trips to avoid doing a series of short stops. I have also noticed that more people with 2016's post about this than others. I didn't start having the slow starts until about one year of ownership. I now have 2.5 years of ownership and 18K miles - original battery, starter - etc.

I have not taken mine to the dealership because I'm sure I will get the all is normal answer. Although I should probably do that before the 36 month part of the warranty expires.

jreagle56 · 08-13-2018, 08:19 AM

Had the issue pop up 3 times so far since brand new. 2016 SS LT1 M6
once right after I got the car. it was a hot august day driving around breaking in the engine, tranny, rear axle and brakes. Returned home and parked the car in garage; had to go right back out a few minutes later; slow turn over, pause and it started.

Didn't happen again until the following year, kind of the same situation.

Then again this year. A 2hr drive to the beach, really hot day, waiting in line to park, stalled car, restart and the starter just barely turned over, started on the 2nd rotation, if a 3rd was needed I don't think it would have done it.

Seems like when the starter is heat soaked something goes wrong. There have been hotter days; leaving the car sit for awhile and no problem starting. Cold starts, first of the day, no problem, cold winter days, no problem. After a round of golf, car sitting in a hot parking lot on a 100 degree day, no problem.

With this car, the starter cadence isn't the same all of the time (from day 1 till now) which is unlike every other car I have owned. To me, it feels like the starter motor is weak for the work it needs to accomplish or the alignment of the interlocking gears is not prefect or something else unknown going on.

Read about the same problem here with no real solution. Replacing wires and a good battery seems to be a little bit outside of the real problem to me. I don't have enough patience for dropping the SS off at the dealership and waiting for them to reproduce the problem to report to GM and a solution to be born on my time, being given a mini van, suv or cruze as a loaner to drive in the meantime. Could be days, weeks, or months. That's the downside to warranty work.

Looked up a new starter on one of the GM parts websites, they are pretty affordable; not sure what it would take to get one installed though. Was considering purchasing one to have on hand in case of a failure. Just my 2 cents...… FWIW

tadre1 · 10-10-2020, 05:45 PM

2016 Camaro SS 10/10/20 .. I think she's finally had it .. 34185 miles bought it new when they first reappeared in 2016 .. had problems with hard starts beginning about 3 years ago .. had to get a jump .. killed the battery .. bought new battery .. thinking it was the problem .. problems continue to happen .. Now she will not turn over after driving it to work and back .. had to make a quick run again so I got back in and it barely turned over .. threw a code .. stabilizer links not working .. some crap like that .. speedometer wasn't functioning and it ran like crap back home. Turned off the car and now will not turn over .. smells like burning wires .. sucks juice from this NEW BATTERY dry trying to start this machine. Needs to be jumped now .. will not start by itself .. had enough .. going to jump it Monday and drive it to the dealer and get ready to be bent over .. without any Vaseline.

Allez · 10-10-2020, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadre1

2016 Camaro SS 10/10/20 .. I think she's finally had it .. 34185 miles bought it new when they first reappeared in 2016 .. had problems with hard starts beginning about 3 years ago .. had to get a jump .. killed the battery .. bought new battery .. thinking it was the problem .. problems continue to happen .. Now she will not turn over after driving it to work and back .. had to make a quick run again so I got back in and it barely turned over .. threw a code .. stabilizer links not working .. some crap like that .. speedometer wasn't functioning and it ran like crap back home. Turned off the car and now will not turn over .. smells like burning wires .. sucks juice from this NEW BATTERY dry trying to start this machine. Needs to be jumped now .. will not start by itself .. had enough .. going to jump it Monday and drive it to the dealer and get ready to be bent over .. without any Vaseline.

Shouldn't this be covered under your 5 year/60k mile powertrain warranty?

tadre1 · 10-10-2020, 11:55 PM

Well I sure hope so .. didn't think about that .. didn't know the starter was under the power train warranty .. thanks for the info

tadre1 · 10-11-2020, 12:20 AM

No, I don't think it is covered under power train warranty

arpad_m · 10-11-2020, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayStreet510

81 views and not one reply, wow what a great and helpful board!

...and you paid how much for the advice and yet another time consuming compilation of the same starter issue that you didn't find because you didn't search at all?

SSDan · 10-11-2020, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpad_m

...and you paid how much for the advice and yet another time consuming compilation of the same starter issue that you didn't find because you didn't search at all?

Arpad - I don't think the OP will care as this is a necro thread from 2018. Tadre apparently did do a search and resurrected the thread.

Tadre - you will see that I did post in this original thread. Just as I mentioned in 2018 - I did take my car in for the hot start slow crank just before the 36 month warranty expired. The dealer solution was to replace the battery. That worked for about a year and I am now back with the slow cranking problem. In fact my last slow crank start last week was almost a failure and when it did finally fire the electronics went crazy. I had no tach, the stabiltrac light was on all the time, the voltage and oil pressure readings were wrong and the engine ran like it was misfiring on at least two cylinders. I limped it home at a distance of about 12 miles and shut it down in the garage. My next start which was on a cold engine everything was back to normal.

I too have had this car brand new since March 2016. I love the car and still enjoy every time I drive it unless I make a stop and then must make a quick (5-15 minutes later) restart on a hot engine. I have to cross my fingers and pray.

Just like you - some day I will reach my limit on this flaw and the car will be sold.

tadre1 · 10-11-2020, 11:57 AM

As soon as it is fixed mine will be sold!! No more this crap! Tried a cold start .. it started just barley .. check engine light is on .. stabiltrac light is on .. sounds like it's running on 6 cylinders .. saw actual smoke from the starter this time .. and this is going to be all out of pocket. The warranty is over. Starters are not covered under power train warranty. Regardless of what year this post was made .. troubles still continue to this day .. all you lucky people that have no problems .. wonderful .. just goes to show you how inconsistent these builds are from the start. I'll take her to the dealer tomorrow. I own only one car .. this really hurts .. laugh all you want .. it can happen to you one day!!

arpad_m · 10-11-2020, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSDan

Arpad - I don't think the OP will care as this is a necro thread from 2018. Tadre apparently did do a search and resurrected the thread.

Aww man, I messed up on this one big time

Will read datestamps next time, promise

SSDan · 10-11-2020, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadre1

this really hurts .. laugh all you want .. it can happen to you one day!!

Well I am not laughing - I'm with you all the way. There is a class action law suit on this but in reality that won't do either of us any good. Good luck with the sale. I hope you find a next ride that you enjoy and is reliable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Aww man, I messed up on this one big time

Will read datestamps next time, promise

That's OK. It happens to all of us.

tadre1 · 10-21-2020, 06:59 PM

Fixed under power train warranty .. how nice! They replaced the starter and a sensor.

08-11-2018, 04:13 PM	#1
BayStreet510 Drives: Yellow 2016 Convertible SS Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Northern California Posts: 5	Intermittent starting issue So it’s a 2016 SS. It runs great. No issues. Sometimes when I start it, the starter sounds like it’s having a hard time. The cranking sound will get super slow and even pause for a second in total silence mid crank then turn the motor over. It’s never failed to start and the battery is new. Dealer said that’s just how it is. Is this normal? It makes me nervous sometimes thinking that it will fail to start. Would an aftermarket high-performance starter help this? Last edited by BayStreet510; 08-11-2018 at 04:24 PM.

08-13-2018, 06:21 AM	#3
SSDan Drives: 2016 1SS 6MT NPP Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Murray, SC Posts: 2,245 View My Garage	I don't think its because no one cares but more so that this issue has been posted numerous times and no one has a definitive answer to give. Solutions that may or may not help have been battery replacements, starter replacements, wrapping starter with heat shield and battery cable replacements. To date the results for these remedies has been a mixed bag. I have this issue any time I have a hot start after a series of short trips such as the second or third stop at the bank or a store where the car is only off for a few minutes. So far I have had some very slow cranks but it has always found a way to start. It does not give me confidence in the car's ability to start though. I try to arrange my trips to avoid doing a series of short stops. I have also noticed that more people with 2016's post about this than others. I didn't start having the slow starts until about one year of ownership. I now have 2.5 years of ownership and 18K miles - original battery, starter - etc. I have not taken mine to the dealership because I'm sure I will get the all is normal answer. Although I should probably do that before the 36 month part of the warranty expires. __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS Hyper Blue 6MT NPP 2010 Camaro 2SS Cam/Headers/CAI/3.91 gears 476 rwhp/440 rwtq (sold)

08-13-2018, 08:19 AM	#4
jreagle56 Drives: 2022 2SS A10 NPP MRC Red Hot Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: CT Posts: 128	Had the issue pop up 3 times so far since brand new. 2016 SS LT1 M6 once right after I got the car. it was a hot august day driving around breaking in the engine, tranny, rear axle and brakes. Returned home and parked the car in garage; had to go right back out a few minutes later; slow turn over, pause and it started. Didn't happen again until the following year, kind of the same situation. Then again this year. A 2hr drive to the beach, really hot day, waiting in line to park, stalled car, restart and the starter just barely turned over, started on the 2nd rotation, if a 3rd was needed I don't think it would have done it. Seems like when the starter is heat soaked something goes wrong. There have been hotter days; leaving the car sit for awhile and no problem starting. Cold starts, first of the day, no problem, cold winter days, no problem. After a round of golf, car sitting in a hot parking lot on a 100 degree day, no problem. With this car, the starter cadence isn't the same all of the time (from day 1 till now) which is unlike every other car I have owned. To me, it feels like the starter motor is weak for the work it needs to accomplish or the alignment of the interlocking gears is not prefect or something else unknown going on. Read about the same problem here with no real solution. Replacing wires and a good battery seems to be a little bit outside of the real problem to me. I don't have enough patience for dropping the SS off at the dealership and waiting for them to reproduce the problem to report to GM and a solution to be born on my time, being given a mini van, suv or cruze as a loaner to drive in the meantime. Could be days, weeks, or months. That's the downside to warranty work. Looked up a new starter on one of the GM parts websites, they are pretty affordable; not sure what it would take to get one installed though. Was considering purchasing one to have on hand in case of a failure. Just my 2 cents...… FWIW Last edited by jreagle56; 08-13-2018 at 08:21 AM. Reason: add car year and model

10-11-2020, 11:57 AM	#11
tadre1 Drives: 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 108	As soon as it is fixed mine will be sold!! No more this crap! Tried a cold start .. it started just barley .. check engine light is on .. stabiltrac light is on .. sounds like it's running on 6 cylinders .. saw actual smoke from the starter this time .. and this is going to be all out of pocket. The warranty is over. Starters are not covered under power train warranty. Regardless of what year this post was made .. troubles still continue to this day .. all you lucky people that have no problems .. wonderful .. just goes to show you how inconsistent these builds are from the start. I'll take her to the dealer tomorrow. I own only one car .. this really hurts .. laugh all you want .. it can happen to you one day!! Last edited by tadre1; 10-11-2020 at 12:16 PM.

08-13-2018, 01:31 AM	#2
BayStreet510 Drives: Yellow 2016 Convertible SS Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Northern California Posts: 5	81 views and not one reply, wow what a great and helpful board!

10-10-2020, 05:45 PM	#5
tadre1 Drives: 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 108	2016 Camaro SS 10/10/20 .. I think she's finally had it .. 34185 miles bought it new when they first reappeared in 2016 .. had problems with hard starts beginning about 3 years ago .. had to get a jump .. killed the battery .. bought new battery .. thinking it was the problem .. problems continue to happen .. Now she will not turn over after driving it to work and back .. had to make a quick run again so I got back in and it barely turned over .. threw a code .. stabilizer links not working .. some crap like that .. speedometer wasn't functioning and it ran like crap back home. Turned off the car and now will not turn over .. smells like burning wires .. sucks juice from this NEW BATTERY dry trying to start this machine. Needs to be jumped now .. will not start by itself .. had enough .. going to jump it Monday and drive it to the dealer and get ready to be bent over .. without any Vaseline.

10-10-2020, 11:55 PM	#7
tadre1 Drives: 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 108	Well I sure hope so .. didn't think about that .. didn't know the starter was under the power train warranty .. thanks for the info

10-11-2020, 12:20 AM	#8
tadre1 Drives: 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 108	No, I don't think it is covered under power train warranty

10-21-2020, 06:59 PM	#14
tadre1 Drives: 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 108	Fixed under power train warranty .. how nice! They replaced the starter and a sensor.

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