Car will not start?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Car will not start?
I wen't to pick up my car from storage today and I couldn't get it started. There seems to be a short that's preventing power from gettting to anything.
It's really strange, when I fisrt hooked up the (brand new) battery and put the ingnition to the on position, my dash lights were up and everything looked good. I cranked the ignition and everything wen't dead.
After that, power would seem to flicker on and off when doing things like pushing the clutch in and out, or shaking the car. I even noticed it flickering while it was getting pulled onto the flat bed.
Any suggestions as to where I should start looking?
Cheers,
Joe
It's really strange, when I fisrt hooked up the (brand new) battery and put the ingnition to the on position, my dash lights were up and everything looked good. I cranked the ignition and everything wen't dead.
After that, power would seem to flicker on and off when doing things like pushing the clutch in and out, or shaking the car. I even noticed it flickering while it was getting pulled onto the flat bed.
Any suggestions as to where I should start looking?
Cheers,
Joe
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: Car will not start? (69rumble)
Check the battery cables for a tight connection to battery posts/terminals.
Remove any evidence of corrosion on connections.
[Modified by Oldman, 10:37 AM 4/19/2003]
Remove any evidence of corrosion on connections.
[Modified by Oldman, 10:37 AM 4/19/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,844
Likes: 0
From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Car will not start? (69rumble)
69rumble....
How long was the vette in storage? Just trying to get an idea of what you are working with. And where did you haul it to with the flatbed. Home? Mechanic? Sounds like a short somewhere, but assuming you must have still had the ignition on when it was on the flatbed to be still flickering.
How long was the vette in storage? Just trying to get an idea of what you are working with. And where did you haul it to with the flatbed. Home? Mechanic? Sounds like a short somewhere, but assuming you must have still had the ignition on when it was on the flatbed to be still flickering.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Re: Car will not start? (bgrice)
bgrice...
The car has been in storage since November. I had it towed home. Yes you're right, I was sitting in the car with the ignition switched to on as the car was being pulled up onto the flat bed. I also had the lights switched on. Now that I have it at home, the electrical system seems to be completely dead.
I wouldn't be surprised if BUGGSY1970 is right and there are some chewed up wires somewhere.
Is there fuseable link somewhere that if goes, will cut power off to the whole electrical system?
The car has been in storage since November. I had it towed home. Yes you're right, I was sitting in the car with the ignition switched to on as the car was being pulled up onto the flat bed. I also had the lights switched on. Now that I have it at home, the electrical system seems to be completely dead.
I wouldn't be surprised if BUGGSY1970 is right and there are some chewed up wires somewhere.
Is there fuseable link somewhere that if goes, will cut power off to the whole electrical system?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Re: Car will not start? (69rumble)
Now that I have the front of the car on jack stands, when I put the ignition to on, there's power :banghead: but when I press on the clutch (just barely press on it) the power disappers :mad
On one occassion when I press on the clutch, the power remained, but when I truned the key to crank the engine, the engine turned a bit and the electrical power died again.
It's gotta be a short somewhere.
On one occassion when I press on the clutch, the power remained, but when I truned the key to crank the engine, the engine turned a bit and the electrical power died again.
It's gotta be a short somewhere.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: St. Andrews Manitoba
Re: Car will not start? (69rumble)
I would start at the battery. Remove it and replace with one that is working from anothe r car. If there is a short in the battery it will work one day, but fail the next after you put it under load, like turning the key to crank the motor. I had this happen on a tractor on the farm. We tried everything until I changed battery.
I would then move to the starter and see if the connections are tight there, especially the ground. On my 70 there is a ground strap from the starter to the frame.
Since you mention clutch depression may change things, read your service manual where it discusses neutral safety switch. I think there is a switch that pevents the car from turning over until the clutch is fully depressed. Read your owners manual on this as well to verify if this type of safety device exists. It may be malfunctioning.
Give us more info and someone will chime in with other ideas.
I would then move to the starter and see if the connections are tight there, especially the ground. On my 70 there is a ground strap from the starter to the frame.
Since you mention clutch depression may change things, read your service manual where it discusses neutral safety switch. I think there is a switch that pevents the car from turning over until the clutch is fully depressed. Read your owners manual on this as well to verify if this type of safety device exists. It may be malfunctioning.
Give us more info and someone will chime in with other ideas.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Re: Car will not start? (bhawk)
bhawk, it looks like it was a bad connection to the starter solenoid :hurray:
The wires connected to it were all loose. Once I tightened them the car started right up!
BTW, my car is equipped with a Neural Safety switch, and I guess when I pressed down on the clutch, the switch would complete a connection to the starter solenoid and poof, no more power.
Thanks for all the help guys!! :thumbs:
[Modified by 69rumble, 9:59 PM 4/20/2003]
The wires connected to it were all loose. Once I tightened them the car started right up!
BTW, my car is equipped with a Neural Safety switch, and I guess when I pressed down on the clutch, the switch would complete a connection to the starter solenoid and poof, no more power.
Thanks for all the help guys!! :thumbs:
[Modified by 69rumble, 9:59 PM 4/20/2003]