I think Einstein had a mathematical formula for that:
Can't start without a jump start.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
Can't start without a jump start.
Well, here's another fail-to-start problem I'm having with my 1980. Had the same problem last summer and a great forum member told me to get a new negative battery cable. I did this and the result was amazing.
Well, now the car's doing the same thing. Haven't even had the car on the street this summer due to various projects and a serious lack of time. Battery is good. Even though I didn't need it I got a new chrome alternator. Starter is a year old & good. Rechecked the negative battery cable. Still secure and like new. The only thing left I can think of is the positive battery cable. Of course it's up in a channel under the car, the rubber coating on the cable looks like it's in very good condition and the ends on the battery and the starter look good and clean. So, I'm thinking it's not corroded away like the negative one was. The car will only start when it's jump started. I'll let it run and charge the battery but when I turn the car off and try to restart it, all I get is a good strong clickclickclickclickclick from the area of the starter. So I don't know if my problem is between the battery and the starter? Between the starter and the engine?... Ahhhh! It's been a frustrating corvette summer.
Well, now the car's doing the same thing. Haven't even had the car on the street this summer due to various projects and a serious lack of time. Battery is good. Even though I didn't need it I got a new chrome alternator. Starter is a year old & good. Rechecked the negative battery cable. Still secure and like new. The only thing left I can think of is the positive battery cable. Of course it's up in a channel under the car, the rubber coating on the cable looks like it's in very good condition and the ends on the battery and the starter look good and clean. So, I'm thinking it's not corroded away like the negative one was. The car will only start when it's jump started. I'll let it run and charge the battery but when I turn the car off and try to restart it, all I get is a good strong clickclickclickclickclick from the area of the starter. So I don't know if my problem is between the battery and the starter? Between the starter and the engine?... Ahhhh! It's been a frustrating corvette summer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
make sure the negative battery cable is grounded good to the frame, clean the area it touches off till it is shinny. Then check the positive cable at the battery, making sure it is scraped off in side the bolt up area, wire brushing this area to be clean. Then check the starter and be sure this positive cable is super tight down there. Since the car needs a jump start, it probably is the battery has a dead cell in it. But, this other work is always needed to be sure the car will charge the battery back up. The charging system putting out at least 14.5 volts? Any thing less will not recharge the battery back up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Do yourself a favor and get the battery load tested. It's the best way to know for sure that the battery is good. Age of the battery isn't a good way to determine if it's a good battery. I replaced my battery one time and it didn't fix my problem. After replacing the starter and cables I took my new battery back and had it load tested. It was brand new and bad.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
Oh yea. The metal on the frame is incredibly clean and the cable is good and tight. The charging system is all new... best quality parts. Spent quite a bit of time under the car checking out the starter (11 months old and hardly ever used since last summer). Checked out all the wiring to and from the starter and even replaced the connectors and they couldn't be tighter.
New Die-Hard battery checked OK and putting out plenty of voltage.
New Die-Hard battery checked OK and putting out plenty of voltage.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
I suspect that the "new" charging system is not recharging the battery very well. You can say it's all new stuff...but that doesn't mean that it's not malfunctioning or that there isn't something wrong with your wiring or the installation.
Turn on your headlights before you start the car. Are they burning brightly? If "no", your battery is not holding a charge or that charge is not finding its way out of the battery. If "yes", then try to start the car. If the engine won't crank/fire and the lights go dim, your battery or the wiring still has the problem. If "yes", but the lights do NOT go dim, you have a wiring or grounding problem between the battery and starter.
BTW, how's the main engine ground cable doing? (18" AWG #4 wire running from frame to right-side motor mount bolt)
Turn on your headlights before you start the car. Are they burning brightly? If "no", your battery is not holding a charge or that charge is not finding its way out of the battery. If "yes", then try to start the car. If the engine won't crank/fire and the lights go dim, your battery or the wiring still has the problem. If "yes", but the lights do NOT go dim, you have a wiring or grounding problem between the battery and starter.
BTW, how's the main engine ground cable doing? (18" AWG #4 wire running from frame to right-side motor mount bolt)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 818
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From: coon rapids mn
how many volts is your battery at ?if it is drained enough times its shot.try a optimal battery.older vettes have a battery drain problem if the battery is left connected.it mite be a problem with the ignition switch.I always disconnected the battery every nite.