1985 corvette won’t start, need help.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 71
Likes: 7
1985 corvette won’t start, need help.
Hey guys, my name’s mason!
I just bought a couple months ago a 1985 corvette. It was just blatant that there was going to be problems with it, considering the price it was bought at and the person I bought it from.
Now, let me start by explaining to you all the problem and maybe someone would be able to help me. I don’t know much about cars, but hopefully I’ll learn soon
problem: the car won’t start. It clicks like a machine gun. Click click click click click. That used to happen all the time, but the car has been sitting for awhile and now the car doesn’t even turn on (like the dashboard and battery thing). I tried jump starting it and it worked for a little bit but seemed to die again. I don’t know what that could have been or why it’s happening.
The battery is about 2 months old; it’s new.
So, I’ve been told that no power is going to the fuel pump and It’s probably to do with a wiring issue. Would a new fuel pump relay fix the problem? Do I need a new alternator for it to turn on? Do I need a whole new fuel pump? All of them? I have no idea, any help would be appreciated. Thanks! If you need more information just ask.
I just bought a couple months ago a 1985 corvette. It was just blatant that there was going to be problems with it, considering the price it was bought at and the person I bought it from.
Now, let me start by explaining to you all the problem and maybe someone would be able to help me. I don’t know much about cars, but hopefully I’ll learn soon
problem: the car won’t start. It clicks like a machine gun. Click click click click click. That used to happen all the time, but the car has been sitting for awhile and now the car doesn’t even turn on (like the dashboard and battery thing). I tried jump starting it and it worked for a little bit but seemed to die again. I don’t know what that could have been or why it’s happening.
The battery is about 2 months old; it’s new.
So, I’ve been told that no power is going to the fuel pump and It’s probably to do with a wiring issue. Would a new fuel pump relay fix the problem? Do I need a new alternator for it to turn on? Do I need a whole new fuel pump? All of them? I have no idea, any help would be appreciated. Thanks! If you need more information just ask.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 71
Likes: 7
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
Hey guys, my name’s mason!
I just bought a couple months ago a 1985 corvette. It was just blatant that there was going to be problems with it, considering the price it was bought at and the person I bought it from.
Now, let me start by explaining to you all the problem and maybe someone would be able to help me. I don’t know much about cars, but hopefully I’ll learn soon
problem: the car won’t start. It clicks like a machine gun. Click click click click click. That used to happen all the time, but the car has been sitting for awhile and now the car doesn’t even turn on (like the dashboard and battery thing). I tried jump starting it and it worked for a little bit but seemed to die again. I don’t know what that could have been or why it’s happening.
The battery is about 2 months old; it’s new.
So, I’ve been told that no power is going to the fuel pump and It’s probably to do with a wiring issue. Would a new fuel pump relay fix the problem? Do I need a new alternator for it to turn on? Do I need a whole new fuel pump? All of them? I have no idea, any help would be appreciated. Thanks! If you need more information just ask.
I just bought a couple months ago a 1985 corvette. It was just blatant that there was going to be problems with it, considering the price it was bought at and the person I bought it from.
Now, let me start by explaining to you all the problem and maybe someone would be able to help me. I don’t know much about cars, but hopefully I’ll learn soon
problem: the car won’t start. It clicks like a machine gun. Click click click click click. That used to happen all the time, but the car has been sitting for awhile and now the car doesn’t even turn on (like the dashboard and battery thing). I tried jump starting it and it worked for a little bit but seemed to die again. I don’t know what that could have been or why it’s happening.
The battery is about 2 months old; it’s new.
So, I’ve been told that no power is going to the fuel pump and It’s probably to do with a wiring issue. Would a new fuel pump relay fix the problem? Do I need a new alternator for it to turn on? Do I need a whole new fuel pump? All of them? I have no idea, any help would be appreciated. Thanks! If you need more information just ask.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 239
From: Venice Cali.
You need to take your battery and have it charged and checked. It can go bad if it is dead for a period of time. Then the clicking is the solenoid making contact in the starter, it is
probably corroded and not contacting fully. Bring your starter to have it tested. That is what I would do before anything else.
probably corroded and not contacting fully. Bring your starter to have it tested. That is what I would do before anything else.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
start with the basics. since you've indicated a new battery (get a fresh charge), start with the grounds, not only at the battery, but battery to chassis, chassis to engine, etc.. also, double check your "+ cable" to starter, fuses, and fusible links. it doesn't take much to break the current path. you really need a FSM. all answers here are second guessing the problem, so, my second guess answer - sounds like it could be a loose or dirty ground connection. it's important to have a decent DVM to go along with the FSM. only when you've established good battery connections and grounds, can you move on. don't assume anything. since you've indicated it's an 85, double check the ground at the rear of the LH cylinder head. that grounds the ECM. a bad ground there will play hell with your ECM, and it will fry certain functionals within the ECM - and that's coming from the voice of experience. double check the ground at the rear thermostat housing bolt. that's a multi-function ground point, and it does provide a ground for the fuel pump relay. again, good luck....
Last edited by Joe C; Dec 6, 2018 at 04:01 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 397
From: Clay New York
Have you ever had the car running? Did you buy the battery or were you told it was new by the previous owner? You need 12 volts and anything less isn't going to get you anywhere. Get it checked out/charged up. If you still get the clicking then its either the starter or a bad connection (easier to check then removing the starter). Buying a non running car, ecspecially a c4 , without having any basic car knowledge is not going to be easy.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 71
Likes: 7
Have you ever had the car running? Did you buy the battery or were you told it was new by the previous owner? You need 12 volts and anything less isn't going to get you anywhere. Get it checked out/charged up. If you still get the clicking then its either the starter or a bad connection (easier to check then removing the starter). Buying a non running car, ecspecially a c4 , without having any basic car knowledge is not going to be easy.
.