C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Start-Up Problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 26, 2013 | 06:15 PM
  #1  
NEHI Orange's Avatar
NEHI Orange
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Default Start-Up Problems

1969, L71, stock, original, great shape, recently rebuilt K66 transistor ignition. Very little problems until 2 weeks ago. Killed the battery twice trying to start up. Won't turn over. Tried pumping gas pedal, setting choke, finally have had to jump it to avoid killing new battery. Took off air cleaner to allow more air. It has become very temperamental and unreliable. Parked it in town for 45 minutes, came out and it wouldnt turn, tried a jump, no good, went and got a new battery, barely got'er going. What're your thoughts? Need a new starter?
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2013 | 06:25 PM
  #2  
Ironcross's Avatar
Ironcross
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Default

clean all the grounds......
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2013 | 10:14 AM
  #3  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,662
Likes: 2,563
Default

and check the alternator output
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2013 | 10:18 AM
  #4  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

If its not turning over reliably you need to go through all the battery cable connections. It sounds like you have a bad connection on the battery cable or main engine ground.
If it doesn't even click it could still be a ground, but just as likely in the start circuit, lockout switch etc.
If it turns over but won't start, look for ignition or fuel issues, vac leak or the like
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2013 | 11:31 AM
  #5  
diehrd's Avatar
diehrd
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
Default

Is it cranking over and just not firing up ? Your post is somewhat confusing ..

If it is SIXFOOTER has your answer in his last statement
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2013 | 03:02 PM
  #6  
NEHI Orange's Avatar
NEHI Orange
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
If its not turning over reliably you need to go through all the battery cable connections. It sounds like you have a bad connection on the battery cable or main engine ground.
If it doesn't even click it could still be a ground, but just as likely in the start circuit, lockout switch etc.
If it turns over but won't start, look for ignition or fuel issues, vac leak or the like
Thanks for all your replies. It is cranking but not firing. Generally I would pump it 2 or 3 times to prime it and it would fire right up. Now, it cranks and cranks, using up the battery until it just clicks. I dont think it is a battery connection problem since its getting plenty of juice, but the cranking and cranking consumes the battery quickly. I'm always relucatant to pump it too much and flood it, but maybe it needs more fuel.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2013 | 03:37 PM
  #7  
dochorsepower's Avatar
dochorsepower
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 50
From: Laguna Niguel California
Default

Does your transistor ignition require the full 12 volts like an HEI? Or is it designed to work at the reduced voltage of the old points ignition. Maybe a voltage level problem?
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2013 | 07:10 PM
  #8  
BuffaloBILL's Avatar
BuffaloBILL
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 2
From: Sugar Land Texas
Default

Originally Posted by NEHI Orange
1969, L71, stock, original, great shape, recently rebuilt K66 transistor ignition. Very little problems until 2 weeks ago. Killed the battery twice trying to start up. Won't turn over. Tried pumping gas pedal, setting choke, finally have had to jump it to avoid killing new battery. Took off air cleaner to allow more air. It has become very temperamental and unreliable. Parked it in town for 45 minutes, came out and it wouldnt turn, tried a jump, no good, went and got a new battery, barely got'er going. What're your thoughts? Need a new starter?
check the distributor cap may have a slight crack
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 30, 2013 | 08:19 PM
  #9  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

Cranks and Cranks means the start circuit battery and grounds are good.
Now check for power to the ignition circuit, fuel to the carb, fuel in the accelerator circuit. Have you done static timing? What is it set at?
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2013 | 09:53 PM
  #10  
STINGRAY1WORD's Avatar
STINGRAY1WORD
Racer
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 319
Likes: 3
From: santa clara ca
Default

Need the four elements in order to fire.
1. fuel
2. spark
3. compression
4. exhaust
One of these missing creates problems
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2013 | 04:54 AM
  #11  
my 76 ray's Avatar
my 76 ray
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Default

Originally Posted by STINGRAY1WORD
Need the four elements in order to fire.
1. fuel
2. spark
3. compression
4. exhaust
One of these missing creates problems
1. To check for fuel, take off the air cleaner and look down the throat of the carb (you may need to hold the choke plate open if the engine is cold, if the choke is closed and the engine is warm you probably have found your problem) move the linkage on the driver's side of the carb and see if you get two streams of gas. They should look like a squirt gun stream.

2. To check for spark, pull a spark plug wire off one of the plugs, insert a screwdriver where the plug would go and hold the screwdriver about 1/8 inch from a ground (the exhaust manifold should work) while somebody cranks the engine (stay clear of any moving parts). You should see a spark.

When a car doesn't start, you rarely get to number 3 and almost never to number 4.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Start-Up Problems





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:57 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE