Start issue...neutral safety? Ignition?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Start issue...neutral safety? Ignition?
HELP! First of all, thank the Corvette god that I was at a transmission shop visiting a friend when I had an issue or else I would've been screwed. Out of the blue, my 78 Corvette would not start...NOTHING...never had an issue with it before. They actually put it on the lift and started it by arcing at the starter and told me not to turn it off until I got home or to a mechanic. (They only do transmissions) So I drove it home (about an hour and a half away.) Turned it off and for the hell of it tried to start it and it started no problem...tried several more times and even this morning..no problem. My ex thought it sounded like a jammed neutral safety thingy...the auto parts store guy thinks its the key ignition because I can take out the key when it's running...someone else said maybe a silinoid in the starter??? I know just enough to be dangerous and confused so guys...lead me in the right direction if you can! :-)
You can see the car at www.millersservices.com/toys/toys
Thanks!
Kim Miller
Newberry, SC
kimmiller68@yahoo.com
You can see the car at www.millersservices.com/toys/toys
Thanks!
Kim Miller
Newberry, SC
kimmiller68@yahoo.com
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 3
From: Carmichael ca
Its going to be hard to tell if it doesn't happen again. I get these kind of problems in the shop a lot, car won't start until its towed in
If it happens again try putting the shifter in neutral and see what happens.
If it happens again try putting the shifter in neutral and see what happens.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
With a tiny bit of work you can be ready to diagnose the next time it does it. Wire in a small light bulb to monitor if the S terminal of the starter is getting power when it fails to start. This will give you a direction to go.
If the light lights the next time it fails I would say you need to replace the solenoid.
If the light does not light you will need to look for a failure in the purple wire starting circuit , bad neutral switch, bad connector just behind the pass head,bad ign switch and so on.
If the light lights the next time it fails I would say you need to replace the solenoid.
If the light does not light you will need to look for a failure in the purple wire starting circuit , bad neutral switch, bad connector just behind the pass head,bad ign switch and so on.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
HELP! First of all, thank the Corvette god that I was at a transmission shop visiting a friend when I had an issue or else I would've been screwed. Out of the blue, my 78 Corvette would not start...NOTHING...never had an issue with it before. They actually put it on the lift and started it by arcing at the starter and told me not to turn it off until I got home or to a mechanic. (They only do transmissions) So I drove it home (about an hour and a half away.) Turned it off and for the hell of it tried to start it and it started no problem...tried several more times and even this morning..no problem. My ex thought it sounded like a jammed neutral safety thingy...the auto parts store guy thinks its the key ignition because I can take out the key when it's running...someone else said maybe a silinoid in the starter??? I know just enough to be dangerous and confused so guys...lead me in the right direction if you can! :-)
You can see the car at www.millersservices.com/toys/toys
Thanks!
Kim Miller
Newberry, SC
kimmiller68@yahoo.com
You can see the car at www.millersservices.com/toys/toys
Thanks!
Kim Miller
Newberry, SC
kimmiller68@yahoo.com
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Hill N.J.
your problem could be the ignition switch actuator rod ..
the rod is located in steering column and is moved down by turning key to the start position.
When the rod is pushed down it actuates switch at the bottom of the column.
Usually the switch just has to be adjusted due to wear....
Good Luck
the rod is located in steering column and is moved down by turning key to the start position.
When the rod is pushed down it actuates switch at the bottom of the column.
Usually the switch just has to be adjusted due to wear....
Good Luck
