help....car won't start now
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 110
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From: Eagle Pass TX
help....car won't start now
Hey guys, I just finished replacing the transmission cooling lines on my 79 L82. Well during the removal of the lines, i noticed a black (approx. 2 gauge wire ) wire that was in pretty bad shape. This big black wire was coming from a bracket near the starter and it went to a bolt on a frame for ground. This black wire is only 12 inches long or so....Well when i replaced the wire....I started the car and it turned over the first time......but then died...Now the car won't even turn over..it just makes a clunking noise when i try to crank the car....I need help guys this damn car is in my drive way ..i need to get it back in the garage..please help..thanks..marty
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Did you have the starter off?If you have jumper cable use them as a test to see if thats your problem.Use the jumper to bridge the wire you replaced and then do the same with the one from battery to frame under battery.If your cable is long enough go from battery to engine block or a bracket bolted to the engine.
Last edited by ...Roger...; Jul 14, 2006 at 11:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 110
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From: Eagle Pass TX
hey guys, just to let you know...that i disconnected the battery prior to replacing the big black wire....once i finished with the transmission lines and black wire replacement, I reconnected the wire back to the battery......Could this have killed the battery..i dont think it would....let me know..marty..oh yeah i only disconnected the black wire to the battery only...
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
If the 12 inch cable you replaced is not making good ground the starter will seek ground elswhere --exhaust -u-joints-if it goes through u-joints they will never be the same.
maybe that small ground for the wipers or blower motor---not good !!! Let us know !!
maybe that small ground for the wipers or blower motor---not good !!! Let us know !!
Last edited by ...Roger...; Jul 15, 2006 at 12:19 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
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From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
That wouldn't kill it... maybe check to see if you have a good ground on that strap... it's not a show stopper but it is important.
Try jumping the battery and see if the car starts... If the cars starts from a jump then you have a battery issue... check connections to the battery and make sure they have good connections too.
Try jumping the battery and see if the car starts... If the cars starts from a jump then you have a battery issue... check connections to the battery and make sure they have good connections too.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 110
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From: Eagle Pass TX
ok...well i tried jump starting the car..and its a "NO-GO"...it wont start...so i looked at the ground cable i replaced...and it is nice and tight....now I will let you know that i purchase the 2 gauge ground cable with a clear plastic insulation on it...i had to purchase two end for it..so i bought some brass ends and used a vice to crimp them on the ends.....Damn all i did was replace the darn cable...how could i have possible messed this up..please help
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
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From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
Originally Posted by spille85
ok...well i tried jump starting the car..and its a "NO-GO"...it wont start...so i looked at the ground cable i replaced...and it is nice and tight....now I will let you know that i purchase the 2 gauge ground cable with a clear plastic insulation on it...i had to purchase two end for it..so i bought some brass ends and used a vice to crimp them on the ends.....Damn all i did was replace the darn cable...how could i have possible messed this up..please help
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by spille85
ok...well i tried jump starting the car..and its a "NO-GO"...it wont start...so i looked at the ground cable i replaced...and it is nice and tight....now I will let you know that i purchase the 2 gauge ground cable with a clear plastic insulation on it...i had to purchase two end for it..so i bought some brass ends and used a vice to crimp them on the ends.....Damn all i did was replace the darn cable...how could i have possible messed this up..please help
Last edited by ...Roger...; Jul 15, 2006 at 09:26 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,806
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From: Burlington WI
It might be the.......
SMELLY TOOLS
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1443888
Forgot to put the link in..... OOPs
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1443888
Forgot to put the link in..... OOPs
Last edited by fl_rider; Jul 15, 2006 at 09:37 AM.
Race Director
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Basics first..check/clean battery cable connections,all starter wire conections,and grounds to body...on the body ground be sure surface is clean...but sounds like not enough juice getting to stater/solenoid..
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by spille85
ok...well i tried jump starting the car..and its a "NO-GO"...it wont start...so i looked at the ground cable i replaced...and it is nice and tight....now I will let you know that i purchase the 2 gauge ground cable with a clear plastic insulation on it...i had to purchase two end for it..so i bought some brass ends and used a vice to crimp them on the ends.....Damn all i did was replace the darn cable...how could i have possible messed this up..please help
Hey Spille85 what did you find !!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 110
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From: Eagle Pass TX
it was the starter after all
Hey guys thanks for all the inputs to my question. After further inspection of the starter/solenoid, I noticed that my starter was actually falling apart. So, 50 dollars later, new starter/solenoid..and the car fired right up....thanks so much you guys/gals...I appreciate all of your inputs. Especially putting up with someone like myself who isnt too mechanically inclined...take care..