Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Rolled my 1984 out of the garage from winter storage. Worked fine until I parked last september. Put a trickle charger on the battery for the winter.

Car would not start. Almost like a kill switch - turn the keys, lights come on, horn works, radio, etc. Turn the key to crank and nothing - no sound, no clicks nothing.

Suspected the starter solenoid had gone since there were a few times last year the starter seemed to freeze. Replaced the starter with a remanufactured AC Delco part. Same result - nothing.

Checked the battery at Sears - had 12.6 volts across terminals, but the battery check said replace - so I replaced it. Same result - nothing.

Contacted my alarm installer. There is a kill fuse in the alarm module. It was blown. Replaced that. Still nothing. By-passed the alarm altogether. Still nothing. Check that I have current at the alarm (I had 12.6).

So, now I am stuck. The car does not have VATs. I am going to lift the car up again and check to see if I have power at the starter. By the way - one question on the starter...the one I removed had one terminal for the ignition switch. The new (remanufactured starter) had two posts...but nothing in the instructions said there was a difference between the posts. You guys know if the posts are actually different?

Any other ideas? I really, really do not want to have to tow my vette to a mechanic. I don't see how that could be very good for the car.

Thanks.

 

Can you measure voltage from starter when somebody turns the key?
You should have 12v in ignition lead.

Also, the another post could (i really don't know, just guessing) be negative point of starter coil, so maybe you should ground it. But first it should be measured, if it is directly connected to other post. It is hard to determine with ohmmeter because resistance is so low, near 0 for the coil.

If you don't get +12v to coil when starting, start looking at ignition switch. I don't remember if there is fuse between switch and battery. There is some protection of course.

Also i'd suspect your alarm system, blown fuse does not sound good.

You can also try to connect starter coil direct to battery, then you know that it is ok.

 

Don't forget to check the fuses at the pass. side panel.

 

Also, I will assume you did, but as a reminder, check your battery cable connections at the battery & at the ground points.

 

SHE STARTED!!!

Thanks for the tip to run a jumper directly to the starter. I was able to determine which post was the correct lead for the ignition wire.

Once I hooked up the ignition to the correct post on the starter she started up instantly...as if she hadn't been sleeping these past 7 months...

Thanks. She is all washed up and ready for the sunshine.

I am going to enjoy her for a couple of months and then retire her...my new 2006 will arrive late summer. I can't part with this one, but she is going to get professionally stored until her value increases.

Thanks again for your help.