SPCL FX

When I got my Vette I knew that it was going to require a lot of work both body and mechanical. The body work for me will be the easy part ! I got the car from a guy that owned a body shop and was going to fix it but in five years did very little to it and then sold it to me. Now that I have it inside I've been trying to do a little something to it every day and this is where I'm at with it now ! I don't know how long the car sat without spark plugs so I got some Marvel Mystery oil and filled each cylinder with it and took off the valve covers and oiled the top end with it. Then I let it sit for about four days and put a socket wrench on the crank and with the help of a cheater bar was able to turn the engine over. Next time at it I took a jump box and connected to the battery wires and turned the key on , the tach came to life so I tried the starter and nothing! Fast forward to last nite, put the jump box on and turned on the key. Went to the starter and checked for voltage and nothing. Checked the distributor and zero ! Checked the wiper motor and 12 volts there ! Alternator wasn't getting a steady reading but there was power there ! Anyone got any ideas what could be happening?? It doesn't look like anyone at anytime has cut on any of the wiring so maybe a fuse? Is the some kind of switch that would stop the flow of power I.E. ( anti theft ) I do have the gauge cluster unplugged so does that need to be back in ?? Anyone got any ideas what I need to check or do next?? Thanks in advance!!

Alan 71

Hi SF,
You don't indicate the year of your car.
Early cars (69-72+) have a Neutral Safety Switch… to start the engine the clutch must be depressed which closes a switch which completes the ignition circuit to the starter solenoid.
Might that be causing your situation?
Regards,
Alan

SPCL FX

Thanks for the reply ! Mine is a 1977 L-48 automatic!

joewill

which port on the starter did you check for power?

SPCL FX

Large wire going to the solenoid!

TimAT

If you checked for power at the battery cable terminal on the solenoid and got nothing, you also got no ground. Under the car, below the battery the negative cable bolts to the frame. And another one from the R/H motor mount stand to the block.

SPCL FX

Found the problem !! The jump box wasn't making a good connection and now the starter is engaging the flywheel but the starter motor isn't spinning so it's time to pull the starter and have it rebuilt ! Thanks everyone that tried to help!! 👍😎