AT4Vette

ok so iv got a 84 vette thats been going through a restoration for the past couple years. i went out to start it up and all i got was a click... the dash started to dim and it wouldnt do anything. i pulled the starter (if anyone has done this you know its a pain in the ***) thinking it was possibly the bendix or something in the starter but it works just fine. i reinstalled the started and still the same thing. it just clicks and wont turn over. any ides what it could be or what i should do? the car used to run fine so i dont think the engine is locked up. thanks for the help!!

popo8

Are you sure your getting enough battery power to turn the starter strong enough to spin the motor?

Motors don't just "lock up."

ch@0s

First step is take the battery and started to be tested.

ccrazor

How long has it sat since you last ran it?? If you have a volt meter check the voltage at the battery, s/b over 12v or it needs a charge or as suggested taken and have it load tested..

Y-ME

Put a socket on the hub bolt and try to turn it, if you can, no lockie.

popo8

Any progress OP?

FOURSPEEDVETTE

These cars need a completely charged battery to turn over. An old battery will tend to not give you enough power even though they show 12 to 14 amps.

AT4Vette

well i havnt had time to get to try anything today. i have a optima red top in it but the battery is not good anymore so i had my jumper box hooked up to it to give it the power to start. i had the box on the 12volt, 60 amp boost, 200A engine start setting. when i pulled the starter and turned the key it would spool up and the bendix would come out like normal so i dont think its anything dealing with the starter..

mrmtrtrnd

Have you tried the socket on the hub bolt yet?

Midnight 85

It takes one heck of a lot less time to do this than pull the starter. Naturally the starter is going to spin like mad with no load on it.

popo8

My money is still on not enough juice...

1slov6

I would have started with the battery first. That is much easier to replace than a starter. And if your optima batteyr voltage is to low your jump box may not be enough to give the optima enough power.

Cliff Harris

Check the connections of your battery cables (BOTH ends! -- BOTH cables!). A loose battery cable will cause the symptoms you describe.

z-corvette

try with new battery

dirtymike77

if your battery is totally dead you are better off using disconnecting it and using the jump box seperatly, otherwise, most of your power is just being sucked away by the dead battery and not nearly enough is making it to the starter.

AT4Vette

well i did that and still the same thing. i put a socket on the crank and it turned freely but still no crank. it just clicks then humms. i dont know why but my digital dash cluster is also strobing and the driver window goes down a lil bit when i turn the key haha this thing is a mess

AT4Vette

if i disconnect the battery and just use the jumper bow straght to the cables thats should be more than enough juice to turn that motor. when i turn the key i can see the pullys movoing a tiny bit before it does the "click and humm"

ch@0s

So you posted this but yet you are not following anyones advice. What was the point?

popo8

IT IS YOUR BATTERY (or charging system as the bigger picture)

Your battery box is not cutting it.

EITHER GO BUY A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY AND PUT IT IN THERE.

REMOVE YOUR BATTERY FROM THE CAR AND CHARGE IT, THEN REINSTALL

OR

USE ANOTHER VEHICLE (running with someone holding the idle over 2,000 rpms) WITH CABLES ATTACHED... ALLOW A MINUTE OR MORE FOR SOME CHARGE TO HAPPEN... THEN CRANK YOUR VETTE.


Everyone here is trying to help you OP... if you could turn the motor over by the crank...ITS NOT LOCKED UP... Your windows, lights, dash all bugging out, is because a CORVETTE requires alot of juice for everything electric...

AND YOUR BATTERY IS JUNK!

Now Please.... Do what I posted above...(the best being) the best being GET A NEW BATTERY.



Thank You.

Amethyst643