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Hi all a C3 has been my dream car since I was old enough to start driving many years ago. A few months ago I was able to purchase an 81 Torch Red and I have been enjoying it ever since. When I got it the starter had been replaced and wasn't shimmed leading to some flat spots in the flex plate. I had a local garage replace the flexplate and starter. The issue now is the car won't crank unless I have a booster pack connected to the battery, the battery is only 2 months old and reads 12 volts and 14 when running and charging. without the booster pack hooked it does nothing, when I hook the booster pack up it raises the volts on the gauge to over 13 and fires right up. I'm pretty good at working on my own vehicles but am new to the corvette world and was thinking maybe a ground issue. Any info is appreciated!
Check your ground connections and look close at the ground cable. On the other end disconnect the ground connector at the battery and check the hot wire to the starter to see if it's damaged or not fastened tightly. It does sound like your mechanic didn't do a good job if it started before and now won't start.
Regardless of how new it may be :
have YOUR battery "Load-Tested" at a local auto electric shop (where they rebuild starters, alternators and generators ON-SITE (not a local big box parts store).
Nothing other than Load-Test with Carbon-Pile tester can disclose true condition of Your battery; nothing. Nothing including all the computers in china.
Thanks Rebelyell since the battery was so new I stopped at the parts store this morning and had them switch it out for a new one while the warranty is still good. I'm going to install it this eve and see how that goes. Thanks for the advice sir.
Check your ground connections and look close at the ground cable. On the other end disconnect the ground connector at the battery and check the hot wire to the starter to see if it's damaged or not fastened tightly. It does sound like your mechanic didn't do a good job if it started before and now won't start.
JT
Thanks jthornton I pulled the battery this morning to switch out since it is under warranty just in case it is a cranking amps issue and looked under the car the main ground is hooked to another ground wire heading toward the front of the car, to the engine i'm assuming. but it is not bolted onto the transmission crossmember, I suspect this may be the issue i'm going to connect it this eve and replace the battery and see how that goes.
Thanks jthornton I pulled the battery this morning to switch out since it is under warranty just in case it is a cranking amps issue and looked under the car the main ground is hooked to another ground wire heading toward the front of the car, to the engine i'm assuming. but it is not bolted onto the transmission crossmember, I suspect this may be the issue i'm going to connect it this eve and replace the battery and see how that goes.
IIRC the ground wire (on my 82) goes from the battery to under the car and is connected to the frame. A second ground wire is also connected at this point and it runs up to the right side of the engine mount with a short ground over to the engine block. I'll look in a bit...
If I’m shooting the shotgun at this problem from afar, I’d pull the starter. Have it tested at local starter/alternator shop. Just to eliminate that possibility. Check all your battery cables. They should bend smoothly, and softly. No crunching noises. No stiff cables. Amps to the starter from the battery are restricted when poor, crusty cables slow amp flow.
81 vette starting issue
