69 vette wont start
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
69 vette wont start
well, ive got a little problem with my vette. it wont even turn over now.
last week the starter finaly went out on it, we had to start the car by jumping it off of a huge battery charger. couldnt take it any place because it would never start again with out a jump.
so this weekend we picked up a new one. before it got put in all the contacts were cleaned, they were completly coverd in grease and oil after all these years.
after its all hooked back up, went to turn the key and theres nothing. no sound of anything moveing under the hood, no nothing. the lights in the interior dont dim either when we try to start it. the electricle gauge on the cluster drops down to -40 though.
we tried starting it off of the battery charger and my dad tried starting it with a screw driver under the hood, both didnt do anything.
we took this new starter in to have it checked and they said it runs flawlessly.
any suggestions as to what it may be? were looking at replaceing the battery cables tonight, since they are 36 years old.
the only diffrence between this starter and our old one is that its a high torque one now.
last week the starter finaly went out on it, we had to start the car by jumping it off of a huge battery charger. couldnt take it any place because it would never start again with out a jump.
so this weekend we picked up a new one. before it got put in all the contacts were cleaned, they were completly coverd in grease and oil after all these years.
after its all hooked back up, went to turn the key and theres nothing. no sound of anything moveing under the hood, no nothing. the lights in the interior dont dim either when we try to start it. the electricle gauge on the cluster drops down to -40 though.
we tried starting it off of the battery charger and my dad tried starting it with a screw driver under the hood, both didnt do anything.
we took this new starter in to have it checked and they said it runs flawlessly.
any suggestions as to what it may be? were looking at replaceing the battery cables tonight, since they are 36 years old.
the only diffrence between this starter and our old one is that its a high torque one now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
No sound at all makes me think it might be the battery. But if the battery is drained, it might also mean the alternator. How old is the battery? Have you tested it?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
we tried two batteries in it, both on a full charge. one battery is about 2 weeks old and was tested when we picked it up, running nice and strong, the other is about a year that should be good.
as for the starter solenoid, i dont think so. im just learning about this car as i work on it with my dad, hes the one that knows what hes doing. if its a piece thats not on the starter its self, then no it wasnt replaced.
as for the starter solenoid, i dont think so. im just learning about this car as i work on it with my dad, hes the one that knows what hes doing. if its a piece thats not on the starter its self, then no it wasnt replaced.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 22
From: Marietta Ga.
I am not sure with '68s, but on my '72, there is a large ground cable for the wipers and several others that is attached to a mounting bolt of the starter. A lot of time, this cable gets hooked back up to the starter power lug. I will try to find a past thread. You may need a wiring diagram to check this out.
Here's a quote that describes what I was talking about
IF you have done any starter motor work recently, you may have that heavy black 10 ga wire with the 3/8 loop on it connected to the battery positive on the starter, that is the ground for the blower motor, and wiper motor.....I replaced mine some years ago, to top of the intake manifold, then again, all my wiring is custom.....
Here's a quote that describes what I was talking about
IF you have done any starter motor work recently, you may have that heavy black 10 ga wire with the 3/8 loop on it connected to the battery positive on the starter, that is the ground for the blower motor, and wiper motor.....I replaced mine some years ago, to top of the intake manifold, then again, all my wiring is custom.....
Last edited by 72GACRZR; Aug 2, 2005 at 02:54 PM.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
a wireing diagram would be very helpful. i hate to say it, but were kinda guessing on it right now. weve re-wired it about 3 times now. were just going by the natural curve of the wires after sitting in one spot for 20 some years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by another-user
a wireing diagram would be very helpful. i hate to say it, but were kinda guessing on it right now. weve re-wired it about 3 times now. were just going by the natural curve of the wires after sitting in one spot for 20 some years.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,375
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
Originally Posted by another-user
after its all hooked back up, went to turn the key and theres nothing. no sound of anything moveing under the hood, no nothing. the lights in the interior dont dim either when we try to start it. the electricle gauge on the cluster drops down to -40 though.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
I think its the battery cables. You can jumper the negative to a good ground but could also be either or both ends of the positive.
It doesn't have to be the wires themselves but where they connect to is no longer conductive.
Your lights don't dim but a gauge responds. I'm more willing to use the lights as a gauge than the gauge. There isn't sufficent power to the starter.
When jumped its still using the same power supply so no spin.
Bad connections might have damaged the first starter to.
It doesn't have to be the wires themselves but where they connect to is no longer conductive.
Your lights don't dim but a gauge responds. I'm more willing to use the lights as a gauge than the gauge. There isn't sufficent power to the starter.
When jumped its still using the same power supply so no spin.
Bad connections might have damaged the first starter to.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: Long Grove, IL
If you get *nothing* at all when you turn the key, check the clutch safety switch circuit (or neutral safety if an automatic). The safety circuit in my car had a bad connection (bad corrosion) at the bulkhead connector where it plugs into the rear of the fuse box. Once I cleaned up the connection everything has been A OK. If you are getting lights dimming or the ammeter indicating some draw then I would NOT suspect the safety circuit.
Regards,
Jay
Regards,
Jay
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
we messed around with stuff for about an hour and half tonight and got no where. found a wireing diagram laying around down here in the basement and we hooked everything up like it says, and still didnt get anywhere.
my dad tried jumping across the starter with a screw driver and we couldnt even get a spark to fly.
tomarrow were going to bypass all the wires and hook up another battery and some jumper cables directly to the starter and see if we can get it to go that way. my dad says he thinks theres a bad negative ground some place since we cant seem to get a spark any place, doing anything.
my dad tried jumping across the starter with a screw driver and we couldnt even get a spark to fly.
tomarrow were going to bypass all the wires and hook up another battery and some jumper cables directly to the starter and see if we can get it to go that way. my dad says he thinks theres a bad negative ground some place since we cant seem to get a spark any place, doing anything.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
ok, ive got a conundrum for you all.
everything is wired up correctly, the starter wont engage and the motor wont turn over.
testing each wire idividualy on a multimeter, they all show resitance.
hookng a battery directly up to the starter while in the car doesnt do anything. nothing from turning the key, and nothing from trying to jump it with a screw driver.
takeing the starter out of the car and unhooking all the wires, and then hooking a battery up to it, the starter fires right up when you lay a screw driver over it.
both me and my dad are completly out of ideas here. from what we can see, theres absolutly no reason as to why this car shouldnt fire right up.
everything is wired up correctly, the starter wont engage and the motor wont turn over.
testing each wire idividualy on a multimeter, they all show resitance.
hookng a battery directly up to the starter while in the car doesnt do anything. nothing from turning the key, and nothing from trying to jump it with a screw driver.
takeing the starter out of the car and unhooking all the wires, and then hooking a battery up to it, the starter fires right up when you lay a screw driver over it.
both me and my dad are completly out of ideas here. from what we can see, theres absolutly no reason as to why this car shouldnt fire right up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
correct me if I'm wrong:
you're saying that it did start with the old starter and a jump ?
My question would be why it doesn't start at all after you replced the starter ? Check all the cables again...
you're saying the starter works fine when you connect 12V directly to it ? It seems that it's not getting these 1V whe installed in the car....
get a Voltmeter and see if you have 12V at the starter when turning the key.
you're saying that it did start with the old starter and a jump ?
My question would be why it doesn't start at all after you replced the starter ? Check all the cables again...
you're saying the starter works fine when you connect 12V directly to it ? It seems that it's not getting these 1V whe installed in the car....
get a Voltmeter and see if you have 12V at the starter when turning the key.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
so far weve checked, rechecked, and triple checked the wireing. everything looks to be in order there.
and yes, the starter works just fine when we take a set of jumper cables and attach them directly from a battery to the starter.
and yes, the starter works just fine when we take a set of jumper cables and attach them directly from a battery to the starter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by another-user
so far weve checked, rechecked, and triple checked the wireing. everything looks to be in order there.
and yes, the starter works just fine when we take a set of jumper cables and attach them directly from a battery to the starter.
and yes, the starter works just fine when we take a set of jumper cables and attach them directly from a battery to the starter.
that means that the starter is not getting 12v power whe it's in the car...
check not only the wiring, make sure it's getting juice when you turn the key....