my car wont crank
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 9
From: Jamestown Rhode Island
my car wont crank
Ive got a 78 L48. I turn my key gen light comes on all nice nice, hear the fan come on nice nice as well, low gas light comes on too, but thats because I F*cked up my rewiring of my gauges and am to lazy to rip it back out and fix it. I turn my key and my battery gauge goes down, but nothing happens. Dont hear the solonode click, just silence. Tried my wipers, those worked, my horn hasnt worked in a long time so I couldnt try that. headlights came on fine. Last time I ran it probably 2 weeks ago it started up just fine, or at least didnt have a problem cranking anyway.
help?
-ashton
help?
-ashton
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Do you have a digital multi meter? You need to check your voltage at the battery and at the starter. I would assume you have a ground problem, and you're getting enough power for lights and stuff but the starter is not getting juice.
If you are in fact getting power at the starter, then the solonoid or the starter itself might be bad.
If you are in fact getting power at the starter, then the solonoid or the starter itself might be bad.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 9
From: Jamestown Rhode Island
go check that now, the lead i test on the starter is the black wire correct?
I got approx 11.9 on the battery. I did notice when I turn the key the fan motor dies down though.
I got approx 11.9 on the battery. I did notice when I turn the key the fan motor dies down though.
Last edited by a kungfu mastah; Apr 9, 2008 at 12:34 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,207
Likes: 4
From: Newton North Carolina
When you hold the key to start you should have battery voltage on the purple wire,but before you even try to start the car there should be battery voltage at the heavy lead which is the black wire.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 9
From: Jamestown Rhode Island
alright ill hop out and try that in a few momentos, i need some food.
with the key turned I got 11.something i couldnt read from whats probably the purple wire, dirt/grease have made the similar colors. and by key turned I dont mean turned all the way to attempt to start.
Do i need to rebuild my solonoid?
with the key turned I got 11.something i couldnt read from whats probably the purple wire, dirt/grease have made the similar colors. and by key turned I dont mean turned all the way to attempt to start.
Do i need to rebuild my solonoid?
Last edited by a kungfu mastah; Apr 9, 2008 at 01:25 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
your battery terminals aren't coroded are they?
my truck would do that to me some times. everything comes on but when you try to start..... nothing.
clean the battery terminals. the truck fires right up.
my truck would do that to me some times. everything comes on but when you try to start..... nothing.
clean the battery terminals. the truck fires right up.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
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From: Jacksonville FL
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 9
From: Jamestown Rhode Island
the spot my car is in makes it hard to get cables to it, i can see if someone has 2nd set of cables, have to daisy chain them but I can probably try that tonight. ill also clean the posts before i try to jump it. I'll let you know hwo ti goes.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
If you can't get it jump started get the battery charged. I'm guessing you don't have enough oomph with less than the full 12.6V charge. Do you have a tender?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Follow this link to find a local retailer of Tender brand battery tenders. Fantastic product.
http://batterytender.com/dealers.php...02e0a79427ed27
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,131
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From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Are you sure it's your battery and not the security system doing it's job? Same thing happened to me when I first bought mine. Any time you use the key or power door lock to lock the car upon exit, you must open the door with the key. I locked mine with the power door lock but reached in as I had the T-tops off to unlock it and it did the same thing as yours because the security system will lock out the starter. The way to reset it is to lock and unlock your car with the key. Might be worth a try.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,131
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From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Don't need to have power locks, if you key lock your door and don't use the key to unlock it I'm pretty sure it will disable your starter, I could be wrong, if so someone will correct me I'm sure..........
I know it sounds too easy, but when this happened to me I called a corvette specialty shop and he told me to lock and unlock my doors a couple of times and it would reset the security system, it worked like a champ.
I know it sounds too easy, but when this happened to me I called a corvette specialty shop and he told me to lock and unlock my doors a couple of times and it would reset the security system, it worked like a champ.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 9
From: Jamestown Rhode Island
ill give unlocking/locking my doors a shot, i havent messed with it since i last started it but it cant hurt. and it is an automatic. Ill try messing with the shifter, right now im charging my battery via jumper, we'll see how that goes. AGH ITS SO NICE OUTSIDE
i let the jump go for about 10-15min, tried multimeter and it was at 13.something, still no dice. without the jump on it was at 12.5, it seems like its not getting the juice to start it. could my solonoid/starter be jammed?
i think i did have a solonoid die the day i got the car, could be a trend?
and i played with the locks, still no dice.
this is getting depressing =(
i let the jump go for about 10-15min, tried multimeter and it was at 13.something, still no dice. without the jump on it was at 12.5, it seems like its not getting the juice to start it. could my solonoid/starter be jammed?
i think i did have a solonoid die the day i got the car, could be a trend?
and i played with the locks, still no dice.
this is getting depressing =(
Last edited by a kungfu mastah; Apr 10, 2008 at 01:50 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
Do you have anyone that can turn the key over while you tap on the starter with A hammer I know this sounds crude but it works and it will tell you about your starter if you tap on it and it startes the car, always carry a hammer ,no really get A new starter.The main wire going to the starter could be in need of some TLC the double jumper(cables) thing might work but Ive seen where A single set would not start a car .My die- hard did it again this year put it up in October let it site till April Started right up. I pulled the battery added some water cleaned up the cables added sound proofing to the batt area and tonight I put it all back together.