1973 corvette will not crank
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
1973 corvette will not crank
Hello all, I have a C3 1973 corvette that had not started in over 10 years. The car is in awesome condition but when I put a battery in it and tried to start, it doesn't do anything. lights, radio, and everything else works except it would not even click. I thought it was the starter solenoid because power is going all the way down to it after I checked with a multi meter. when I jumped the wires at the solenoid, I can hear what sounds like a relay in the engine compartment but nothing from the starter. I went ahead and changer the starter and relay and still nothing. I checked all of the grounds and they are ok, she still doesn't do anything. Any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Stick or auto? Check your neutral safety switch or clutch safety switch.
I had this happen to me once......damn floor mat was stuck just right under the clutch and wasnt letting me go the last 1/4 inch to open the switch. Took me 3 days to discover that...
I had this happen to me once......damn floor mat was stuck just right under the clutch and wasnt letting me go the last 1/4 inch to open the switch. Took me 3 days to discover that...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,558
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
You only have power to the starter 'S' terminal (purple wire) with the key in 'START".
If you do not have 12 volts then trace back to the NSS switch and ignition switch.
Are the battery connections good?
If you jumper from the battery positive to the 'S' terminal the starter should turn on.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...ZTM0ZDc1MWM5Ng
If you do not have 12 volts then trace back to the NSS switch and ignition switch.
Are the battery connections good?
If you jumper from the battery positive to the 'S' terminal the starter should turn on.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...ZTM0ZDc1MWM5Ng
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,178
Likes: 1,668
From: Long Island
With the car in neutral or park, set the parking brake.
Put a jumper on the S terminal of the starter and apply 12 volts +. The starter should engage and spin. If not, one of the cables to the battery is bad / connections corroded or the starter is bad.
The jumper only has to be 14 gauge or better.
If the starter spins - the safety or key switches are bad.
Unless you have the wires backwards. S on R terminal.
Put a jumper on the S terminal of the starter and apply 12 volts +. The starter should engage and spin. If not, one of the cables to the battery is bad / connections corroded or the starter is bad.
The jumper only has to be 14 gauge or better.
If the starter spins - the safety or key switches are bad.
Unless you have the wires backwards. S on R terminal.
Last edited by BLUE1972; Mar 19, 2017 at 11:30 PM.
