C3 Wont Start
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C3 Wont Start
On Sunday I had to put jumper cables on to start my Vette. I got in running drove it around the block and let in run in my driveway for a good 20 minutes. I opened the headlights and when I turned on the brights I heard a pop and the motor dragged down but continued to run. It restarted several times after no problem. I let it sit for an hour and it wouldn't start with jumper cables. The headlights wouldn't come on, no dash lights and it wouldn't turn over. I took out the battery had it tested and it was stone dead. Bought and new battery, replaced the connections and same thing no headlights and it wont turn over. I tapped the starter and solenoid and few times and got a little sign of life that ended quickly. Then I got disgusted and put it away after disconnecting one terminal. Can anyone help out a vette lover?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 527
Likes: 84
From: SW Ohio
Dave,
What year car auto or stick?
These cars have fuses under the hood that could kill power to the starter.
Do a search above on no start or will not turn over.
So you have a voltmeter to check voltage @ starter when key is turned?
Chuck
What year car auto or stick?
These cars have fuses under the hood that could kill power to the starter.
Do a search above on no start or will not turn over.
So you have a voltmeter to check voltage @ starter when key is turned?
Chuck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
On Sunday I had to put jumper cables on to start my Vette. I got in running drove it around the block and let in run in my driveway for a good 20 minutes. I opened the headlights and when I turned on the brights I heard a pop and the motor dragged down but continued to run. It restarted several times after no problem. I let it sit for an hour and it wouldn't start with jumper cables. The headlights wouldn't come on, no dash lights and it wouldn't turn over. I took out the battery had it tested and it was stone dead. Bought and new battery, replaced the connections and same thing no headlights and it wont turn over. I tapped the starter and solenoid and few times and got a little sign of life that ended quickly. Then I got disgusted and put it away after disconnecting one terminal. Can anyone help out a vette lover?
After about 20 years the aluminum block-to-frame ground cable won't pass current because the crimped-on aluminum ends get corroded inside. I would start by replacing that worthless aluminum cable with a decent 4-gauge copper cable with copper ends and then go from there. Make sure your battery is fully charged before you attempt to start it. If you don't own a trickle charger buy one because its a "must have" tool.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 110
From: Garland Texas
Before wasting time, money, and effort on cables that very rarely ever fail take some voltage checks and find the actual problem. Watch out for ghost voltage. Keep us updated with your findings and please state the vitals of your car. Take advice from experienced people. It's easy to identify them, they are the ones telling you how to check and find a bad part and not the one telling you to replace a good part before isolating the problem.
Mike
Mike
Last edited by tracdogg2; Feb 2, 2016 at 03:26 PM.
