Just bought a 1981 vette. Whiling driving it it just died, after a while I was able to start it. Well today I drove to store and when I tried to start it-Nothing. No click or and indication of what happened. Tried to jump it, but nothing. The radio and electrical gauges work. Can anyone point me in the direction of what I can try or maybe what is wrong?
Thank you!!

 

Check all cables especially grounds...
is it hot where your at? Hot no start?

 

Move shifter into neitral and try as well

 

Ok, so as far as the car dying, it could be from a fuel starvation issue, or an electric, and or ignition issue. Kind of hard to get there right away...

When you try to start the car, do the lights dim/ radio cut out etc? This would give an indication that the system is being strained by the act of trying to start the car, and all wiring is connected/ intact, I.e no blown fuses or fusible links. If it is, then I would suspect the car should take a jump, but you have stated that it won't. Have you put a volt meter on the battery to see what its reading right now? Couldn't hurt to check the connections of the cables at the battery to make sure they are clean, and check the connection of the ground where it meets the frame underneath the car. Check the grounds at the engine block as well.

After this, I would check the neutral safety switch to make sure its not loose, or a wire hasn't broken off.

Then I would check for any blown fuses at the fuse block.

From there, I would disconnect the battery, and disconnect the bulkhead connector at the firewall, wire brush it clean, maybe even add some dielectric grease, plug it back together, and reconnect battery. See if anything happens now.

After this, Id check the fusible links at the starter.

Somewhere in these checks, something should turn up.

 

Its cool here in Fl. I tried to start it tonight and the same nothing..however I tried to turn the lights on and there is not enough juice to open the lights. So now I'm thinking maybe an electric problem?

 

Thank you so much for your reply. Tonight I can't even get the lights to open. So I'm thinking maybe an electrical prob? It was kind of scary for the car to just die while driving. I will put the charger on and check everything you said

 

I tried but nothing

 

The headlights open by vacuum, only works when the engine is running.

 

not certain how much you know about cars. hard to assess your automotive wisdom.
have you tryed jumping the solenoid? upper large terminal jump to small terminal on left side center of solenoid. use a jumper wire or old beat up screwdriver to connect these 2 posts. does it crank???

 

if yes. we can guide you through trouble shooting your wiring/switches. if no, we can go from there. have to start somewhere.
the fact that it died when running sounds like a bad ground cable to frame under the battery, or poor positive connection at solenoid. what have you checked so far? both ends of both battery cables???

 

I have an 81 vette also for about 18 months. to start on my vette burned up 2 alternators why hot wire going threw the frame from battery was old and freyed causing my battery to drain. mechanis ran another line along side of the frame, than put in a new alternator from napa. a while later starting problems again back to my nechanic, engine to frame ground whire bad he installed another wow good to go. a month later tried to start my vette all was dead i mean nothing turned out to be 2 fuseable links. car ran great after that. than i had installed hooker headers and a true dual exhaust. wow sounds cool come home and would not start when hot. dam posted here suggestion from forum to much heat to starter so wraped the headers on the right side and bought a starter blanket runs and starts great again untill the next problem pops up.
all the suggestions on here are great i would be bankrupt with out this forum you are dealing with a 40 year old car that needs attention

 

I jumped the solenoid and it started right up. Shut it off and would not start on its own,jumped the solenoid again and it started. Checked battery cables, the battery reads about 13 volts. Does this mean the solenoid is bad or maybe an electrical problem from there to the ignition?
Thanks so much guys

 

It started when I jumped the solenoid, but wont start at ignition

 

Take a test light and a get a friend.

check the wire at the “s” terminal with test light while some one cranks ignition switch.

if you’ve got power, then the solenoid has an issue.

if no power... If no power, then trace back to ignition switch.

prior to testing ignition switch id probably check the neutral safety switch.

 

The battery shows 13 volts on the meter When the switch is on it doesn't seem like it draws on the battery. Now I am going to really sound dumb but please bare with me. Dave what is the "s" terminal? Where is the neutral safety switch? Thanks

 

S terminal is the post that you jumped with your screwdriver.

 

Neutral safety switch will probably be near the shifter.

 

Check your fusible links at the starter wire connections as well.

 

Tank you so much for your help

 

Auto or 4spd. Makes a difference where the connection is for the neutral safety switch.