Help help ignition problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 422
Likes: 6
From: Daly City California
Help help ignition problem
so today i went to start the vette (92 base coupe Lt1) i got in the car the inside lights came on the dash lit up when the key was put in then i turned the key and nothing happend. next thing was the center cluster went completly out but the center consol stayed lit. after a few seconds the center LCD screen came back to life, i tried the key again and the car turned over but wouldnt start. i had a 14.2 volt charge on the battery so that wasnt the problem. then after turning the key back to off and turning it on againit would again turn over but not start. then again the LCD went out and it wouldnt turn over. yet the radio and center console were still powered. after about 10 minutes of poing around with no idea what was going on standing on the side of the street in a suit lol i tried the key again and she started. any ideas whats going on?
ps i turned the car on and off when i got home a few times and it worked perfectly
ps i turned the car on and off when i got home a few times and it worked perfectly
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,794
Likes: 2,706
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
If, when she did finally start, everything worked well, I would look at the battery forward. It is possible that over time and with vibration that the terminal connection could be just loose enough to cause this. Good enough connection to light interior lights but not enough to engage the starter.
Then follow the wires, checking grounds, connections. There could have been some condition, dirt, moisture, etc. at the starter connection that prevented initial start.
Your battery could be nearing the end of it's life. Though it reads good charge on the gauge, it's cranking power could be falling off. If it's getting on five years that's about the time they go.
Finally, it could be the starter itself. The clutch spring that engages the gears to the flywheel/flex plate could be getting ready to go. But that's a long shot and your symptoms lend more to electrical.
Then follow the wires, checking grounds, connections. There could have been some condition, dirt, moisture, etc. at the starter connection that prevented initial start.
Your battery could be nearing the end of it's life. Though it reads good charge on the gauge, it's cranking power could be falling off. If it's getting on five years that's about the time they go.
Finally, it could be the starter itself. The clutch spring that engages the gears to the flywheel/flex plate could be getting ready to go. But that's a long shot and your symptoms lend more to electrical.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The center console may not be related to your no crank problem. One thing I would do and it is easy. Remove the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, bolts, and battery terminals and then replace the cables (neg last). Batteries need a very low resistance connection in order to be able to supply the 100+ amps the starter requires and cable connections get flakey after 1 or more years.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 422
Likes: 6
From: Daly City California
Thanks for all the ideas guys. So today after work I went to test if the vette started and no dice. My partner is working nights so he wanted to listen if there was any sound when the key was turned. So I tossed him my spare keys and the car fired right up. After a few tests we figured out it's the key itself the security chip was so worn out the connection was bad the key turned the car to on but wouldn't engage the ignition. So problem solved!!! Thanks for the help guys!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Hopefully you found the trouble. You might try hitting that chip on the key with a little rubbing alcohol. Happened to me once, turn the key and nothing. After a few tries and nothing, I thought it might be the vats. cleaned the key with some alcohol and whala.
The thing that would concern me, is that as I understand it, when the chip voltage is not correct or present, the ingnition is completely disengaged. In your original post you spoke about the car cranking but not starting. I could be wrong, but vats would prevent the car from cranking.
The thing that would concern me, is that as I understand it, when the chip voltage is not correct or present, the ingnition is completely disengaged. In your original post you spoke about the car cranking but not starting. I could be wrong, but vats would prevent the car from cranking.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 422
Likes: 6
From: Daly City California
Hopefully you found the trouble. You might try hitting that chip on the key with a little rubbing alcohol. Happened to me once, turn the key and nothing. After a few tries and nothing, I thought it might be the vats. cleaned the key with some alcohol and whala.
The thing that would concern me, is that as I understand it, when the chip voltage is not correct or present, the ingnition is completely disengaged. In your original post you spoke about the car cranking but not starting. I could be wrong, but vats would prevent the car from cranking.
The thing that would concern me, is that as I understand it, when the chip voltage is not correct or present, the ingnition is completely disengaged. In your original post you spoke about the car cranking but not starting. I could be wrong, but vats would prevent the car from cranking.
thanks
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 422
Likes: 6
From: Daly City California
UPDATE!!
so the car started fine this morning and started fine when i left work. i parked to get some food and when i got back to the car it wouldnt start. after a few minutes the dash seemed to click back on then the car started. after a few block of driving annd the dash lights went out and the interior lights as well. the analog guages still work but the LCD is out when i open the door the lights inside dont come on either.....SO WHAT THE HELL
so the car started fine this morning and started fine when i left work. i parked to get some food and when i got back to the car it wouldnt start. after a few minutes the dash seemed to click back on then the car started. after a few block of driving annd the dash lights went out and the interior lights as well. the analog guages still work but the LCD is out when i open the door the lights inside dont come on either.....SO WHAT THE HELL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
UPDATE!!
so the car started fine this morning and started fine when i left work. i parked to get some food and when i got back to the car it wouldnt start. after a few minutes the dash seemed to click back on then the car started. after a few block of driving annd the dash lights went out and the interior lights as well. the analog guages still work but the LCD is out when i open the door the lights inside dont come on either.....SO WHAT THE HELL
so the car started fine this morning and started fine when i left work. i parked to get some food and when i got back to the car it wouldnt start. after a few minutes the dash seemed to click back on then the car started. after a few block of driving annd the dash lights went out and the interior lights as well. the analog guages still work but the LCD is out when i open the door the lights inside dont come on either.....SO WHAT THE HELL
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 422
Likes: 6
From: Daly City California
Did the dash lights go out while you were driving, or after you stopped? If they went out while you were driving, you probably have a short somewhere in the dash, or a loose ground. If they went out after driving and the car was not running, I would first go back to the battery connections. Been there, done that too. Had an occasion when I would turn the ignition key then everything would go black. Discovered my negative battery wire connection was stripped, caused it to do this randomly.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 422
Likes: 6
From: Daly City California
i will check it. but would the cables being loose or bad still allow the radio and allow the engine to run while all the other electronics went out? plus when i puch up the dimmer the light inside comes on but when i open the door it doesnt
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 422
Likes: 6
From: Daly City California
so more update.first off i dont have a obd reader to get codes and the car isnt running enough to get it to the shop. it starts when it wants to but after a few minutes the dash lights and LCD screen go out completely. after you turn off the car it wont start. i cleaned up the battery and after reconnecting the cables it started fine then went out again
Some one was saying check the vats.....i dont know what that is or where it is help? could this possibly be an alternator problem as well? yesterday while the dash was on i watched the volt meter(while the car was on but not cranked) run from 14.9 to 11.0 in about 30 seconds.
if it is electrical this car may be for sale soon
Some one was saying check the vats.....i dont know what that is or where it is help? could this possibly be an alternator problem as well? yesterday while the dash was on i watched the volt meter(while the car was on but not cranked) run from 14.9 to 11.0 in about 30 seconds.
if it is electrical this car may be for sale soon
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
I am certainly no expert but it sounds like you may want to have your alternator checked out too. You say the voltage is fluctuating perhaps the alternator is own its way out. I"d check the the battery cables end to end as well.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
so today i went to start the vette (92 base coupe Lt1) i got in the car the inside lights came on the dash lit up when the key was put in then i turned the key and nothing happend. next thing was the center cluster went completly out but the center consol stayed lit. after a few seconds the center LCD screen came back to life, i tried the key again and the car turned over but wouldnt start. i had a 14.2 volt charge on the battery so that wasnt the problem. then after turning the key back to off and turning it on againit would again turn over but not start. then again the LCD went out and it wouldnt turn over. yet the radio and center console were still powered. after about 10 minutes of poing around with no idea what was going on standing on the side of the street in a suit lol i tried the key again and she started. any ideas whats going on?
ps i turned the car on and off when i got home a few times and it worked perfectly
ps i turned the car on and off when i got home a few times and it worked perfectly
