78 sarts one time only
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 127
From: Mequon WI
78 sarts one time only
Yesterday I moved the car. Had it running maybe 5 minutes then shut it off. It started rignt up without any issues. About a half hour later I went to start it up and it will not crank at all. Lights work, seems to habe power but will not turn. I let it sit overnight and went to start it this afternoon. It started right up. Ran it a few minites and moved it back to its parking spot. I shut it off, waited about two minutes and again, nothing. I cleaned the ground wires, both the one in back and the one near the starter. I cleaned the connections on the starter. Cleaned battery terminals. Checked voltage across battery terminals and have full volts. Tried to start it and nothing. Fuse links seem to be good. My guess is the starter relay is going bad? Any other ideas I should check?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
(not a Corvette starter, but similar in function)
I would remove the solenoid from the starter and check inside. If there is evidence of corrosion inside the solenoid and on the bendix plunger, clean it good and reassemble the starter and try it out. (I would also spray some CRC 556 or similar lubricant on the plunger before reassembling the solenoid.) If it fails again when the engine is warm, replace the solenoid with a new one. This should cure the problem.
Good luck and let us know what you discover... GUSTO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
If you turn the key to crank, and nothing...try getting a helper to tap the solenoid while you turn the key. If it cranks, bad solenoid.
This is after testing the purple wire at the solenoid for voltage while cranking.
The starter must be removed to access the solenoid...
This is after testing the purple wire at the solenoid for voltage while cranking.
The starter must be removed to access the solenoid...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 127
From: Mequon WI
Thanks for all the suggestions and help. Turns out what really changed is I took it off the battery tender. With some help I measured the voltage drop while starting. It dropped to zero. New battery and all is well.
