79 Corvette just died... Need help
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
This sounds like a grounding issue to me. Do the following, which are ALL cheap:
Replace the battery terminals
Check the exhaust manifolds and headers... have any wires fell on there and are burned?
I had the same exact problem with my '78 for MONTHS and it turned out to be a wire had fallen on the manifold and burned to it, so it was getting some ground but not a very good one. Replaced wire and whoala fixed.
Replace the battery terminals
Check the exhaust manifolds and headers... have any wires fell on there and are burned?
I had the same exact problem with my '78 for MONTHS and it turned out to be a wire had fallen on the manifold and burned to it, so it was getting some ground but not a very good one. Replaced wire and whoala fixed.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
@jkjazzsax
It was suggested earlier that it could be a grounding issue so I took a set of jumpers from the battery to the chassis giving it a surefire ground and still nothing
It was suggested earlier that it could be a grounding issue so I took a set of jumpers from the battery to the chassis giving it a surefire ground and still nothing
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Have you tried to push start it? That sounds like to easiest next test. If you can't find a pusher, then pulling plugs and manually turing motor would tell you if it's a seized motor. Don't try and push start yourself. It's real easy to get your foot caught by the back wheel; several members have learned that lesson the hard way with fairly serious injuries.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Right. That would determine if you have a grounding problem at the battery, not somewhere in the wiring harness. Check the exhaust manifold and headers for burnt wires that have fallen on it.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
Also, pushing the car by yourself is dangerous because the brakes are vacuum powered...
Most folks like to push start down a hill...and stopping these cars (3,500lbs) down a hill with vacuum assisted brakes that aren't getting any vacuum can be problematic.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
I believe I either have a starter issue or the engine is seized. I had my gf turn the key. It made the same noise it did before but watching it I saw it just rocked.. If the motor is dead I take it it's not going to spin the fly wheel
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 20
From: NC
Only way to confirm
Pull the plugs
Put car in neutral or press clutch
Try to spin the engine by putting a ratchet on the end of the crank
If you can post a video on YouTube so we can hear the "clunk"?
Would be be good to hear the sound. A "click" would be normal for a starter not getting enough current. A "clunk" makes it sound like the starter is engaging, but can't budge the engine
Pull the plugs
Put car in neutral or press clutch
Try to spin the engine by putting a ratchet on the end of the crank
If you can post a video on YouTube so we can hear the "clunk"?
Would be be good to hear the sound. A "click" would be normal for a starter not getting enough current. A "clunk" makes it sound like the starter is engaging, but can't budge the engine
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
It's not looking good. If the motor moves when she turns the key, that means the starter is engaging, but then stopping. It COULD still be a starter issue...but the signs are not saying likely. I would usually advise 10-30 for these older cars...but that alone should not cause the motor to seize. Let us know how the manual crank turns out. With the plugs removed, it should not be overly hard to turn the motor over with a long handled wrench.
Did it run hot when you drove it? Did all of the gauges work? Oil might have been fine, but the pump might have been shot...
Did it run hot when you drove it? Did all of the gauges work? Oil might have been fine, but the pump might have been shot...
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 20
From: NC
Not good.. If you can't budge the engine with the plugs removed and tranny in neutral or clutch pressed, Sounds like your engine is toast. When you try a video, include the engine view of balancer (pulley on end of crankshaft) when key is turned
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
I have a video of the starter, and you can clearly hear what I've been trying to discribe, you'll understand.
@Binster, I just took it off the jacks cause apparently my gf's neighbor owns a shop down the road and he offered to come over tonight and check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEkxwUc8tc
That's the video. I'll let you know what he says sometime tonight.
@Binster, I just took it off the jacks cause apparently my gf's neighbor owns a shop down the road and he offered to come over tonight and check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEkxwUc8tc
That's the video. I'll let you know what he says sometime tonight.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 20
From: NC
Not good.. You can see the starter twisting, which implies it is engaging on the flywheel and trying to crank but can't turn the engine. Lots of torque there, surprised how much flex there is.
Keep us posted.. Hope it is not as bad as it looks
Listening to that a second time.. almost sounds like the starter is spinning (good).. or is it a hum (bad)? Hard to tell on my cruddy PC speakers
Keep us posted.. Hope it is not as bad as it looks
Listening to that a second time.. almost sounds like the starter is spinning (good).. or is it a hum (bad)? Hard to tell on my cruddy PC speakers
Last edited by binster; Aug 30, 2011 at 05:26 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 363
Likes: 72
From: Somers New York
Could there be a head gasket failure causing coolant to fill up a cylinder causing a liquid lock? That happened once to my brothers 1964 283 Chevelle. What they said about removing the spark plugs and trying to spin the engine.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I think after watching the video that I would remove the plugs from the engine and see if there is water in there. Also pull the dipstick and look hard at the oil. See if you see an coolant on the end of the stick... do you see a milky look or is it just nice clean oil.
The zinging sound on the starter is the noise made when it... what I call un-winds. If you don't find fluid in the cylinders then pull the starter.
But it sure looks hydro locked to me just from watching he starter.
The zinging sound on the starter is the noise made when it... what I call un-winds. If you don't find fluid in the cylinders then pull the starter.
But it sure looks hydro locked to me just from watching he starter.