jamestronix

Hi everyone. I am new to this forum and I have a problem that I hope someone can shed some light on. Here are the details:

2012 Z06 Bone Stock 26000 miles

The car let me down a couple of weeks ago when the wife and I were out at a restaurant. Car ran fine to the restaurant. When we started to leave the car failed to start and just made clicking sounds from the starter. Not one click, but click, click, click, click for several seconds until I let off the clutch. This is what I have tried so far.

Tried to jump start and same result. Had to have the car towed home.

The battery was replaced 2 months ago with a New GM battery. I took the battery to the dealership and they tested it and it was good.

I checked the battery terminals at the battery and at the fuse block under the hood. I checked all the fuses and swapped some to the relays around. I checked the voltage from the battery to the terminal under the hood (12.4v). I checked voltage from the terminal under the hood down to the positive terminal on the starter(12.4v). I ohmed out the battery cables. I checked for damaged / melted connections under the fuse block that is under the hood. All looked new and undamaged.

I inspected the starter and the positive stud was slightly loose like it was broken inside the solenoid plastic housing. I proceeded to remove the starter and I replaced it with a Reman from GM. Car still does the same thing. Click Click no start. Car did jump start this time and ran good. Alternator was showing around 13.2 at idle with all accessories and lights on. I shut it down and was able to restart with no jump 4 times. I them put the battery on charge all night and went to bed. The next day the click click no start was back and the car will not take a jump again.

I measured the voltage at the positive terminal of the starter while trying to start it during the clicking (10.6v)

I checked the ground on the passenger side of the engine block. It had no corrosion and it is tight.

I tried another battery just as a last resort. No effect. Still cannot jump the car off either.

I was able to roll start in 2nd gear with no problem, but upon shut down the click click no start was back.

Sorry for such a long post but I want to give you all the info I can in hopes that someone has seen this before and has a solution. I probably left something out, but I think I covered the major points.

HK770

I would replace battery with 10.6 v its dead. And might not ever charge fully. You said you jumped it to start,and it won't jump now. With dead battery and jumper cables you will find battery's equalize when connected. Some times you have to let jumping car run a (while) before jumping. MY best : REPLACE, battery

P.S. .... put on tender for peace of mind.

schpenxel

What was the voltage at the battery when the starter was getting 10.6V?

My guesses are either battery or the battery cable connector. I've had both go out on mine.

jamestronix

Hi, thanks for the reply. I did try another battery and it is the same result. It is like the car is losing voltage from the fuse block terminal down to the starter during cranking. It only shows 10.6v at the starter post during cranking.

jamestronix

11.86v at the battery and at the underhood fuse block post during cranking

schpenxel

Bad ground?

jamestronix

I checked the one at the engine block on the passenger side when I had the starter out. Is there another that is a common suspect?

schpenxel

Not sure. Are you sure the battery cable connectors are good? Mine were eroded and barely worked. If I twisted them the right way on the battery post sometimes they'd work enough to let the car start. Other times I was the redneck in the parking lot with his hood up on a Corvette..

jamestronix

I will double check them tomorrow, but am pretty sure they are good.

zrracer

i would be looking at the starter.
good luck

Robin

cclive

This is a very good step...hardly anyone does this. This is normal voltage for a system under heavy starting load. I agree with zrracer, look at starter or secondarily, the solenoid, although if the solenoid were not working, the load would not be placed on the system and it would show higher voltage at the starter terminal.

bill 2010 c6

My 2012 gs w/9000 miles did this. I disconnect ground from battery for a minute then reconnect and it was cured maybe something with ecu

mrk1957

Although the starter is "new", it could be bad. Sounds like the starter is pulling down the battery. You're getting voltage at the starter, so the ignition circuit is doing what it's suppose to do. Just not volts to crank starter. A bad connection will also cause this.

jamestronix

FIXED!!!!!!!!

It was a loosed ground connection. It is the ground under the hood, under the oil tank bolted to the passenger side inner fender. I tightened it up and the car immediately fired off strong. I drove it about 20 miles, came home and shut down a restarted several times with not one problem. Thank you all for your very helpful posts!

schpenxel

mrk1957

Great!

C6topless

What you described is the 2nd most common reason why a C6 corvette will not start.

for those experiencing this issue , the common causes in order ....

1. bad solenoid -- they tend to melt ...
2. loose ground connection --
3. bad battery cell
4. alternator

jamestronix

I agree. My car had 2 of these issues at the same time. The positive post on the solenoid was broken inside the plastic housing and I had a loose ground. When my car decides not to start, it aint playin around!