my 78 won't start
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 67
Likes: 1
my 78 won't start
Took the 78 for a drive this morning, it started fine ran around for a few hours then headed home. Parked it in the drive way and went and cut grass. When I went to start the car I have electrical power for everything but the car is dead. It wont even try to do anything. It sets 80 % of the time in garage, I do start it on occasion, I thought it was the "safety switch" that the auto trans lever is suppose to engage when in park but it seems ok as far as position and contact with lever , I'm lost
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 67
Likes: 1
Will do '75 but not till tomorrow or Monday , its been along day and I'm calling it quits for the evening (70 yr old body just cant take it like early days) I thank you for the info and will post what I find in next day or two. I have a show tomorrow so I need to get my 02 ready.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,221
Likes: 9,359
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
It could be the solenoid is sticking in the starter. Try giving it a few taps and try it again. Chevy starters were notorious for this back in the day.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 67
Likes: 1
I replaced the starter about 8 years ago with one of those mini starter being the stock one was too close to the header. The car doesn't get driven probably more than 200 miles a year, surely it isn't the starter? But crazier things have happened. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Is the battery good or bad?
Clean and tighten the wires on the battery + and -.
Check that the battery ground connection to the frame is clean and tight.
Check that the battery wire at the starter is clean and tight.
Check the starter to frame ground is good.
This schematic shows the YELLOW wire brings 12 volts to the neutral safety switch with the key in START, and the PURPLE brings 12 volts to the starter.
Check that the purple wire at the starter is clean and tight.
Confirm that the NSS is closed in Park of NEUTRAL.
http://www.vetteprojects.com/bmv/mis...tte%201978.pdf
Clean and tighten the wires on the battery + and -.
Check that the battery ground connection to the frame is clean and tight.
Check that the battery wire at the starter is clean and tight.
Check the starter to frame ground is good.
This schematic shows the YELLOW wire brings 12 volts to the neutral safety switch with the key in START, and the PURPLE brings 12 volts to the starter.
Check that the purple wire at the starter is clean and tight.
Confirm that the NSS is closed in Park of NEUTRAL.
http://www.vetteprojects.com/bmv/mis...tte%201978.pdf