!965 Corvette won't start
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Prospect, IL
!965 Corvette won't start
My son was driving my 1965 corvette and killed it. When we turned the key, nothing happened. I tried clutch starting it and it still wouldn't start. No power except the clock was working. I tried jumping it and nothing. We pushed it halfway home with my wife driving and she turned on the radio. I tried it again and it started. No problems for about a month. I charged the battery and when I tried to start it, the same thing happened. No power, no anything, not even interior lights or radio. I took the battery out and had it checked. It is fully charged. My brother thinks it is the ignition switch but would that cause the interior lights and all power to go out? Also whenever I turn the key to try to start it, the clock stops then starts again a few minutes later. Is this an electrical problem or could it be the ignition switch ($200-250). Should I use a multimeter to check to see if there's power going to the ignition switch before I drop bundle on a new one and find out that's not the problem?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,005
Likes: 1,510
From: Prescott Arizona
DuVette - Welcome to the Corvette Forum. Sorry to hear about the issues you're having but old cars come with their share of problems.
This may or may not help your situation but on the firewall, under the master cylinder you'll find a pair of rectangular shaped electrical harness connectors. Some times corrosion sets in and
they no longer make good contact to the fuse block connectors. Both of those connectors have retaner tabs to hold them in place. Carefully pinch the retainers and wiggle the connectors till they come loose.
If you have a small bristle brush, try to clean the contacts on the connectors and the front of the fuse block leads. Reattach and hopefully you'll have power again.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
This may or may not help your situation but on the firewall, under the master cylinder you'll find a pair of rectangular shaped electrical harness connectors. Some times corrosion sets in and
they no longer make good contact to the fuse block connectors. Both of those connectors have retaner tabs to hold them in place. Carefully pinch the retainers and wiggle the connectors till they come loose.
If you have a small bristle brush, try to clean the contacts on the connectors and the front of the fuse block leads. Reattach and hopefully you'll have power again.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,202
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
DuVette - Welcome to the Corvette Forum. Sorry to hear about the issues you're having but old cars come with their share of problems.
This may or may not help your situation but on the firewall, under the master cylinder you'll find a pair of rectangular shaped electrical harness connectors. Some times corrosion sets in and
they no longer make good contact to the fuse block connectors. Both of those connectors have retaner tabs to hold them in place. Carefully pinch the retainers and wiggle the connectors till they come loose.
If you have a small bristle brush, try to clean the contacts on the connectors and the front of the fuse block leads. Reattach and hopefully you'll have power again.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
This may or may not help your situation but on the firewall, under the master cylinder you'll find a pair of rectangular shaped electrical harness connectors. Some times corrosion sets in and
they no longer make good contact to the fuse block connectors. Both of those connectors have retaner tabs to hold them in place. Carefully pinch the retainers and wiggle the connectors till they come loose.
If you have a small bristle brush, try to clean the contacts on the connectors and the front of the fuse block leads. Reattach and hopefully you'll have power again.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
