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Hey y’all, a couple days ago my dad and I got a 1975 corvette 4 speed. It drove well and after we replaced brake calipers and tuned the carb a little bit more we went to start it and it wouldn’t start. We checked the battery and it was bad so we replaced it with a brand new one and it still wouldn’t start. We dropped the starter and bench tested it and the starter works great. When we hooked our multi meter up to the wire to the solenoid and turned the key with the clutch in it was not receiving any power. I have been reading forums and have seen some issues that may have caused this and was curious to hear some other opinions. It could be a short circuit in the starter circuit. The starter interlock override or a bad positive connection from the battery. Thank you
Easiest way is a small piece of wire attached to both terminals on the clutch safety switch. If that doesn’t remember no start problem, check the main ground wire from the battery going to the steel frame.
Easiest way is a small piece of wire attached to both terminals on the clutch safety switch. If that doesn’t remember no start problem, check the main ground wire from the battery going to the steel frame.
I will try the clutch safety switch. I was messing around last night with the car and cleaned the main ground wire. The rest of the car gets power just not the solenoid. Hopefully it’s just clutch safety if not might be ignition switch?
The key switch (ignition switch) is located at the bottom portion if the steering column. Turning the key moves a rod that move the switch contacts. Ensure the the rod is moving to provide start, run, and accessory. If you have wiring for your model year you could meter the wires.
The key switch (ignition switch) is located at the bottom portion if the steering column. Turning the key moves a rod that move the switch contacts. Ensure the the rod is moving to provide start, run, and accessory. If you have wiring for your model year you could meter the wires.
I was messing around with the car today. I put the wire and connected the two connections for the clutch safety switch and it still did not start. I was running through some ideas and I had my dad turn they key to the run position to see if the distributor was getting 12 volts because I was wondering if that meant the ignition switch was working. I got 12 volts and obviously no start but does that mean my ignition switch is good and I can start looking somewhere else for the problem?
I was messing around with the car today. I put the wire and connected the two connections for the clutch safety switch and it still did not start. I was running through some ideas and I had my dad turn they key to the run position to see if the distributor was getting 12 volts because I was wondering if that meant the ignition switch was working. I got 12 volts and obviously no start but does that mean my ignition switch is good and I can start looking somewhere else for the problem?
You have to check for 12v at the clutch switch when you try to start it. If you don't have 12v there then it is probably the switch on the steering column that has a problem.
You have to check for 12v at the clutch switch when you try to start it. If you don't have 12v there then it is probably the switch on the steering column that has a problem.
Okay, I tried it and I was only get around 5 volts when we tried to start it.
Some early '75s had a starter interrupt system, do you have this part on your firewall?:
I do not have that. That is the starter interlock override correct? That was what I was thinking it was from reading other forum posts but I did not have it on mine.
I checked all the wires going to the starter. I have the two big wires on the main post and the purple wire going to the S terminal. I read somewhere there are fusible links on those wires. Is that true?
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Yes. The top solenoid post gets the main battery cable and 2 other wires, they bring power to the car and are protected with fusible links.
Here's an internet photo showing the fusible links ( black cylinders):
When I go back home for my Thanksgiving break from college I will try both of these. I believe it is the fusible links as they look really bad. Thanks for the help I will let you all know my findings!
ignition switch can be bad. it can also not be activated cuz the rod doesn't move it far enough to fire. do the mech adjustment before buying parts. you can take a hot wire from batt and touch the clutch switch on both sides to see if switch works and test the wiring from clutch switch to starter.
Thank you all so much for the help. We took the steering column out and it was the ignition switch that was bad. Car is all put together and drives exactly like it did before. Thank you all again!
Solenoid not getting power
