car will not start, checked the battery it's good, lights work and radio, can not get it to even try to turn over, jump started it yesterday after leting it sit for two months. allso can't find starter to check wires

 

The starter is located on the right rear side on the engine block.It is held in place with two bolts fastend at the bottom of the engine block.

 

Follow the positive cable coming off the battery. It goes right to the starter.

 

thanks, does the description that I gave sound like the starter is the problem

 

How do you know the battery is good? Have you hooked up a meter to the battery to see if it's charging? Have you checked & cleaned the battery terminals? What about the cables? Before you go swapping starters or anything else for that matter you need to diagnose the problem. If you don't know how I would suggest taking the car to somewhere like Auto Zone or Advanced Auto or somewhere that will check your charging system for free to see what the problem actually is before you start spending money & swapping parts in hopes of stumbling on the problem. Is it an automatic or stick? If it's an automatic try moving it in & out of park & trying to start it. It could a neutral safety switch. It could be the ignition switch or a number of other things but I would suspect it is something simple like a battery connection or weak battery. Which by the way, your lights, radio and all other accessories will work with a weak battery unless it's completely dead. I hope you get the idea. Since you didn't specify I'm assuming your dealing with a C-3 Vette with a small block in which case the starter is on the passengers side beside the oil pan. Even if it's a big block it's in the same place. Since you didn't know that I will also assume your mechanical abilities are limited so I would suggest having someone with more experience take a look at it. Given that I will also assume that you probably don't have the needed tools & test equipment to diagnose it & fix it either. I'm not being a smart a** but just trying to point out the obvious so you don't cost yourself more money than the job requires. Good luck.

 

Thanks, I don't think you are being a A-hole I checked the battery it's good I cleaned the cables, when I jumped started it sound like the starter was having a hard time, anyway thanks again.

 

The starter does not really have a "hard time". It either works or it doesn't. If it was having a hard time turning over when you were jumping it (as compared to doing nothing without a jump), it sounds like it may be the battery. If it sat for several months, and you have a drain, it will be low.

If it is the battery, you can eventually jump it. However, it won't start right up as soon as you put the cables on it. You will need to let the cables sit on it for a little while.

 

You beat me to it.


So jump starting worked? By connecting a pair of jumper cables from someone else's car it started?

Your starter is probably fine. I would suspect first the battery cable connections. Pull them, clean them, reinstall them, and make sure they are tight and have good contact.

If you still have a problem, I would try a new battery. Sometimes a battery can have a few damaged cells. It'll still show 12V but won't have the cranking power to turn the motor over.

 

No offense.....But when someone does not even know where the starter is, it is time for Freds Auto Service to tow it to their shop.......

 

when you get it started carry it to Autozone or somewhere and get it checked, if its been sitting for two months and you hadnt had problems before then, my money is on the battery. On older batteries the first cold snap of the year will kill off the weak ones. Could be drain on it somewhere also.

 

Go easy on the guy. Everyone has to start somewhere. At least he is willing to get his hands dirty. More than I can say for most C5 C6 owners. They barely know where the gas goes.

 

I agree with both sentiments...I think he needs to get more experienced help, but that help should come from someone who's willing to answer questions and point things out.

 

You may not have had a good connection to the battery when you tried to jump start the car. If it turned over the starter is probably fine. You need to put a volt meter on your battery to make sure you are getting 14v or so from the charging car. If the car doesn't turn over quickly enough wiggle the jumper cable connections and try again. If your battery is marginal you may need to let it sit and charge a while from the running car before trying to start it.

If the battery has an internally shorted cell it may not start period and you will have to take the battery in to a shop to be tested. Autozone and Sears will test a battery for free usually.

BTW, be careful when hooking up the cables. Batteries generate Hydrogen gas which is expolsive (remember the Hindenburg blimp?) and jumper cables frequently spark when connected. Explosive gas + spark = not good.



Rick B.

 

Hawkster how about filling out your profile

 

Take a flashlight and look to make sure the cable connections at the
battery are really tight. If you get a "click" when you try to start it
could be your starter. Take a hammer and wack it - yes, this moves
the internals and it will start. (If that's the case then get a new one.)

 

Done this lots to quickly diagnose a bad starter. Whacking the starter will give it a temporary pass to starting your car. Usually will only work a few times or long enough to get you home or to a shop.

 

I agree Durango boy. Another thing to consider is the batterys
CA cranking amps and Cold Cranking amps. I finally got a mid size
battery that had 815 cranking amps and 650 cold cranking amps.
This was about $80. My point is that if you don't start on a regular
basis you need good storage amps - for quick starts.

 

I would also suggest investing in a good repair manual & the factory assembly manual. Spend some time looking through both to LEARN where things are located on your car. Also wouldn't hurt to read the diagnostic or trouble shooting section of repair manual. Don't always count on someone else to diagnose your problem for you. This will come with experience but you've got to put in the effort to learn for yourself. Nobody knows it all but if you're going to drive a car like a Vette you need to educate yourself. Food for thought,

 

I have a related question. My '80 doesn't start and I know it's not the battery or the starter. The battery is new, 600+ cca, and I jumpered the terminals at the starter and it turns the engine over. I get no "click" at the solenoid...nada, nothing, when turning the ignition.
That leaves two possibles in the circuit, the starter relay or the clutch switch (4-speed). I can just barely touch the clutch switch, buried on the inside firewall. Before I start tearing into the dash is there a way to jumper around the clutch switch. And, where is the starter relay, on the fuse box?? Anyone have a diagram of the fuse box? Wiring diagrams I have don't locate the relay.
Thks

 

On your 80 the relay is the solenoid on your starter that you said you "jumpered".After reading your post I would first check the 4 wire connector coming from the starter at the back of the passenger head.Its right below the hood alarm switch and should have 1 black,2 reds and 1 purple-the purple is the solenoid "start" wire.Make sure its plugged in good and is clean.This purple wire should be hot when you push in the clutch and turn the key to "start".If the purple is not hot in start then the clutch switch or ignition switch could be at fault.
edit-the 4 wire I referred to could be a 6 wire if you have an electric fan on the radiator..should have another red wire and a blue in that connector.