Randomly won’t start
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Randomly won’t start
I just bought a 1981 Black on black 4 speed, I had it shipped to my dealer parking lot a few nights ago. When I got it shipped and the guy was unloading the car, he started it with a bit of a long crank.
After he unloaded the car, I parked it in a nearby spot. I shut off the car and realized the parking brake wasn’t working, so the car rolled forward a bit. I went to start the car back up to repark it, and the car wouldn’t start. At first it a slow crank that stopped and turned into buzzing, then I went to crank it again and it was just buzzing.
It sounded like a dead battery to me. I was able to start it in the morning by jump starting it.
the weird thing is, the morning after that (this morning) the car started just fine. I drove down the street to get gas before work, shut off the car, and $20 of gas in. I went to turn on the car and it had the same issue from the first night, which was super odd because it was just running. I was able to start the car with a jump start again to get it to work, and the car has started just fine for the rest of the day.
any suggestions to diagnose this? Possible fixes? Should I just charge the battery? Do a draw test?
After he unloaded the car, I parked it in a nearby spot. I shut off the car and realized the parking brake wasn’t working, so the car rolled forward a bit. I went to start the car back up to repark it, and the car wouldn’t start. At first it a slow crank that stopped and turned into buzzing, then I went to crank it again and it was just buzzing.
It sounded like a dead battery to me. I was able to start it in the morning by jump starting it.
the weird thing is, the morning after that (this morning) the car started just fine. I drove down the street to get gas before work, shut off the car, and $20 of gas in. I went to turn on the car and it had the same issue from the first night, which was super odd because it was just running. I was able to start the car with a jump start again to get it to work, and the car has started just fine for the rest of the day.
any suggestions to diagnose this? Possible fixes? Should I just charge the battery? Do a draw test?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,417
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Hi and welcome
Clean the battery negative cable that's under the car's rear seat on the frame.
Get the battery 'load tested' to be sure it's good.
Get the battery 'load tested' to be sure it's good.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,305
Likes: 8,109
From: Napa Valley California
I had the same issue with mine.
I found that the negative battery cable was badly corroded under the insulation.
The cable looked new but after peeling back some of the insulation it almost corroded completely through.
I replaced the cable and no more issues.
I found that the negative battery cable was badly corroded under the insulation.
The cable looked new but after peeling back some of the insulation it almost corroded completely through.
I replaced the cable and no more issues.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
thank you, I’ll take a look at it tomorrow. I appreciate the quick replies
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,417
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Open the battery door behind the seats and follow the cable under the car.
See item #1
There is a starter to frame ground cable up front, check that one too.
See item #3
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Thank you so much I’ll check this out tomorrow after work on the lift.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Checked the ground cables underneath the car today, the cables feel hard and definitely have corrosion underneath the insolation, I’m going to see if my parts guy can order some new ones. Thank you so much for the help, this issue has been so annoying, especially when I stall and have to jump the battery.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,664
Likes: 2,564
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Fixed?
I think I found the issue, I asked my parts guy to get a quote on the battery and it turns out I had the wrong battery group size installed. I swapped out the battery with the correct one, and I also noticed there wasn’t a hold down. I jury-rigged a makeshift hold down with a GM plate hold down and a small thick slab of metal. Car starts up no issue now, quick crank and it will crank right after shutting it off. A little bit longer crank if I go KOEO and roll down the windows before starting, but it’s a giant leap forward from what it was before.
Thank you all for the help I’ll still be replacing those cables because they are due for replacement , I’ll also to a battery test to see how good the alternator is next week.
Thank you all for the help I’ll still be replacing those cables because they are due for replacement , I’ll also to a battery test to see how good the alternator is next week.
