'78 Not Running
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Texas
'78 Not Running
1978 base model-
Took the car out last night for a friend's birthday, ran and drove fine. Upon leaving, attempted to start the car and engine turned over, ran for a little, then stalled on me. Pumped the gas a little, turned it on, cranked over fine and held idle. Waited a couple minutes to for it to warm up, put it in drive, I moved about 2ft before car completely shut off on me. No gradual rpm drop or anything, just shut off completely. I jumped the battery and it held charge, all electronics and guages working, but getting no sound when I try to crank the engine over now. Battery and alternator are less than 3 years old, connections and posts are all clean.
Where do I need to look next for diagnosing it? I've seen a couple forums suggesting neutral safety switch or starter, does that sound about right?
Took the car out last night for a friend's birthday, ran and drove fine. Upon leaving, attempted to start the car and engine turned over, ran for a little, then stalled on me. Pumped the gas a little, turned it on, cranked over fine and held idle. Waited a couple minutes to for it to warm up, put it in drive, I moved about 2ft before car completely shut off on me. No gradual rpm drop or anything, just shut off completely. I jumped the battery and it held charge, all electronics and guages working, but getting no sound when I try to crank the engine over now. Battery and alternator are less than 3 years old, connections and posts are all clean.
Where do I need to look next for diagnosing it? I've seen a couple forums suggesting neutral safety switch or starter, does that sound about right?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 2,118
From: Minnesota
Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear about that.
If all the electronics in the car work but the starter doesn’t make any noise when you turn the key 99% of the time it’s the negative battery cable ground on the frame. It’s good that your battery post connections are clean, but this one is underneath the car where the cable comes out of the battery tray.
As for once it’s running but then dying, that sounds more like a carb/timing issue. What are you running as far as that?
If all the electronics in the car work but the starter doesn’t make any noise when you turn the key 99% of the time it’s the negative battery cable ground on the frame. It’s good that your battery post connections are clean, but this one is underneath the car where the cable comes out of the battery tray.
As for once it’s running but then dying, that sounds more like a carb/timing issue. What are you running as far as that?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 4,495
From: Virginia
Neutral safety switch or starter won't kill a running car.
You've probably depleted your battery if it won't crank now. But also check the fusible links at the starter. Once you get it cranking again, you can diagnose your other issue, which may be as simple as replacing the HEI module.
Where did you connect the leads when jumping the car? The starter extension harness (which contains the fusible links) can be easily replaced by itself (when parts are in stock, at least). There are AC and Non-AC versions for 78, if that's your problem.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/77l-78-...n-harness.html
You've probably depleted your battery if it won't crank now. But also check the fusible links at the starter. Once you get it cranking again, you can diagnose your other issue, which may be as simple as replacing the HEI module.
Where did you connect the leads when jumping the car? The starter extension harness (which contains the fusible links) can be easily replaced by itself (when parts are in stock, at least). There are AC and Non-AC versions for 78, if that's your problem.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/77l-78-...n-harness.html
