Electrical System - Chevrolet 1971 Camaro Owner's Manual

(E) If the car will start but stalls when hot or has a rough idle,
you can suspect a faulty IDLE ADJUSTMENT, a malfunctioning
AUTOMATIC CHOKE or an extremely dirty and blocked AIR
CLEANER ELEMENT. Replace paper element air cleaner if neces-
sary. Idle adjustment or automatic choke service (other than that
outlined in paragraph D above) should be performed by your
Chevrolet Dealer.
If the above Fuel System checks and the checks suggested under
the Electrical System following do not correct the malfunction, it is
recommended that you return to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer
for further checks, adjustments or repairs.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
If, when the ignition key is turned to "Start", the engine will not
turn over, you have good reason to suspect electrical trouble.
NOTE: Never remove Delcotron bat lead without first disconnecting
battery ground cable.
(F) When there is no response at all to attempts to start the car,
check the obvious-your AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR
LEVER must be in Neutral or Park position before the engine can be
started. Turning the IGNITION SWITCH rapidly back and forth
several times will sometimes correct a poor internal switch contact.
(G) The BATIERY may be discharged. If so, lights will be dim and
the horn will have a poor tone if it will blow at all.
Usually a garage recharge will be necessary to return the battery
to operation. Occasionally, however, a long drive will recharge the
battery.
NOTE: If the battery is determined to be dead, and for no apparent
reason, have your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer check the
battery, the GENERATOR and the VOLTAGE REGULATOR.
GENERATOR trouble should already have been indicated by
the gene~ator indicator light on the instrument panel.
70
POOR BATIERY CONNECTIONS may be suspected if the car has
operated properly a short time before and now not even the horn
will operate. Check both ends of both battery cables. If the con-
nections are corroded, a car may sometimes be restored to opera-
tion by removing all cable ends, scraping all contacting surfaces
clean with a pen knife, and reassembling. If the cables are broken,
they must be replaced. The power supply should now be restored
unless the battery is dead.
(H) If, however, the lights and horn work properly but the starter
will still not turn over, check the STARTER connections. A "click"
from the starter solenoid indicates that the wiring to the starter is
properly installed. If the wiring seems to be clean and tightly in-
stalled, the trouble is probably in the starter itself and should be
referred to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
When the engine will "turn over" but will not start, the following
items may be checked along with the Fuel Systems Checks listed
previously.
(I) With a clean dry cloth, wipe the ceramic portions of the spark
plugs dry. In particularly damp or rainy weather dampness may be
the cause of not starting, especi-
ally when the engine is cold.
(J)
Check the cables at the top
of the distributor and coil as well
as each spark plug cable for
tightness.
(K) If the car will still not start,
check for spark at the spark plugs
in the following manner:
Pull one of the spark plug
wires off its spark plug. Insert a
short piece of bare wire (such as Distributor and
Coil Cables