Nothing from the starter...
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
Nothing from the starter...
Greetings! I need your help. I drove my Corvette the other day and everything was fine. I drove it home parked it in the garage without any problems. A couple of days later I wanted to take it out, but it wouldn't (and still won't) start. The battery is fine (only a couple of months old). Everything electrical works in the car except the starter. It doesn't make a sound when I turn the key. The only things I can think is a) the clutch neutral start switch (it's a 4 spd), the started, b)the solenoid (which is part of the starter), or c) the starter. Can you think of anything else it might be? Anything you think I should check first? I'm thinking it may be the starter.
A little info about the car may help. I'm the second owner and have had it since 1985. The car has only about 27,000 miles on it and is in near new condition. When I bought the car, the previous owner (a good friend) had removed the cat and installed a test pipe in it's place. When I got the car I finished the job and removed the smog pump, all of the plumbing, and capped the exhaust manifold inputs from the cat. The car ran good, but never great. I presume the ECM was looking for emissions from the cat and was having difficulty adjusting the carb because the cat was missing. I now live in GA, and when a car is 25 years old it no longer requires an emission test. So in 2007 I sent the car to a speed shop and had some slight modifications made, including the complete disconnection of the ECM. I replaced the ignition with an MSD High Spark system, installed an Edelbrock Carb and Manifold, Hooker headers, and an X-pipe exhaust. Now the car runs and sounds like a Corvette is supposed to.
Thanks so much for your help!
Jim
A little info about the car may help. I'm the second owner and have had it since 1985. The car has only about 27,000 miles on it and is in near new condition. When I bought the car, the previous owner (a good friend) had removed the cat and installed a test pipe in it's place. When I got the car I finished the job and removed the smog pump, all of the plumbing, and capped the exhaust manifold inputs from the cat. The car ran good, but never great. I presume the ECM was looking for emissions from the cat and was having difficulty adjusting the carb because the cat was missing. I now live in GA, and when a car is 25 years old it no longer requires an emission test. So in 2007 I sent the car to a speed shop and had some slight modifications made, including the complete disconnection of the ECM. I replaced the ignition with an MSD High Spark system, installed an Edelbrock Carb and Manifold, Hooker headers, and an X-pipe exhaust. Now the car runs and sounds like a Corvette is supposed to.
Thanks so much for your help!
Jim
Last edited by 814spd; Nov 26, 2018 at 12:46 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 729
Likes: 118
From: Kelowna British Columbia
I would check 2 things first. Using a test light or preferably a meter check for 12 volts on the large wire from the battery at the starter. Also check the ground wire from engine to frame right by the starter. While you are at it look at the ground wire from battery to frame. I would take grounds off and clean up so shiny and get a good ground.
Good luck
Good luck
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
From there ohm out and check the Clutch switch.......and make sure you have power there. Then make sure you have power going in to the column ignition switch and out of it when it is activated.
If you have power to the starter......you can try jumping the solenoid from the large port to the "S" side to see if it will engage.
These things will narrow down your troubleshooting.
Good luck!
Jebby
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
Thanks for your replies gents. I had a suspicion that it might be the theft deterrent system. It has been a problem - ever, and I'm also missing the plunger switch under the hood. The original one froze up, so I removed it but the replacement didn't work. I jumped the plugs together but that didn't work, so I reset the system by disconnecting the negative ground from the battery and reconnecting it. It worked! The car started right up. Now the turning signals stopped working! Good Grief! I checked the fuse and it's fine, so I am going to replace flasher unit on the fuse panel and hope for the best.
Thanks again! Your advise is much appreciated!
Jim
Thanks again! Your advise is much appreciated!
Jim
