96 starting problems?
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 70
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From: Jacksonville Fl
96 starting problems?
I have a 96 and lately it hasn't been wanting to start at all. I mean like it has a dead battery or something. I first started to notice something was wrong when the dash lights wanted to hesitate to come on when the car was cranked up. Then just the other day the radio had a loud buzzing noise coming thru the speakers. Finally all of the sudden the car would not crank up the next day. And then later that day it did. And now it doesn't start again. ETC....
Anyone had this problem before?
Anyone had this problem before?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 1
From: Rosemount MN
Re: 96 starting problems? (mikeslt4)
Sounds like a charging problem. If the battery is in good shape it should start the car no problem and all the power should be kind of filtered through the battery. If the battery is weak it may cause those problems.
What does the voltmeter do when you turn the key to on, and have it running. should read 12.5 - 13.5 when off and 13.5-14.5 when running. If not, make sure fluid is topped if possible and then fully charge, could be that your cable ends are corroded to prevent the alternator to charge the battery, or a host of other problems.
:cheers:
What does the voltmeter do when you turn the key to on, and have it running. should read 12.5 - 13.5 when off and 13.5-14.5 when running. If not, make sure fluid is topped if possible and then fully charge, could be that your cable ends are corroded to prevent the alternator to charge the battery, or a host of other problems.
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: www.corvetteflorida.com
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: 96 starting problems? (Tonys96)
Sounds kinda like what my 87 did today. Was starting fine. Stopped, left for about 30 minutes, came back, hit the key and click...and all dark. Nothing!!!
Got out, lifted the hood, checked the cables and..Shazam!!! starts like it did all along :confused: . WOrked great the rest of the day until about 9:00 tonight. Been sitting for about 3 hours. Hit the key and...nothing. Revisited the procedure detailed above and...once again...shazam...started right up. Now I'm really :confused: .
Noticed the lights flicker occasionally and the dash light (only have one partial light) does the same. Very intermittent.
Shows 13.8-14+ charging amps.
Gonna try to figure it out tomorrow or saturday. If I do, I'll let you know what I figure out. If you find out anything, please do the same. :cheers:
:seeya :flag
Got out, lifted the hood, checked the cables and..Shazam!!! starts like it did all along :confused: . WOrked great the rest of the day until about 9:00 tonight. Been sitting for about 3 hours. Hit the key and...nothing. Revisited the procedure detailed above and...once again...shazam...started right up. Now I'm really :confused: .
Noticed the lights flicker occasionally and the dash light (only have one partial light) does the same. Very intermittent.
Shows 13.8-14+ charging amps.
Gonna try to figure it out tomorrow or saturday. If I do, I'll let you know what I figure out. If you find out anything, please do the same. :cheers:
:seeya :flag
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: 96 starting problems? (STREETKNIGHT)
streetknight, that is exactly what its doing. It doesn't seem as though it is the alternator or battery. I might have to take it to the dealer to find out. :nonod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
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From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Re: 96 starting problems? (STREETKNIGHT)
Clean the battery cables.
Back off the bolt, remove the cable and use a small wire brush on both the battery and the cables. They must be clean.
As stated above the battery should read 12.5 at the very least when the car is not running. 13.5 to 14.5 running.
To test the battery crank the car with the lights on, the lights should stay on.
If they go out or are very dim the battery is in a low state of charge, or the ground cable isnt making contact. :flag
Back off the bolt, remove the cable and use a small wire brush on both the battery and the cables. They must be clean.
As stated above the battery should read 12.5 at the very least when the car is not running. 13.5 to 14.5 running.
To test the battery crank the car with the lights on, the lights should stay on.
If they go out or are very dim the battery is in a low state of charge, or the ground cable isnt making contact. :flag
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
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From: Gurnee IL
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 96 starting problems? (redwing76)
I had a similar problem on my 'GS.
Turned out the connectors in the steering column that touch the chip on the key where not touching the key. So, 7 out of 10 times when would attempt to start the car the VATS (vehicle anti theft system) would disable the starter so the car wouldn't start (then stays that way for 3-5 minutes), and I would hear nothing, not even a click - like a bone-dead battery... but then it'd start the next day! Or next hour....
In order to solve the problem and not tear into the steering column, a friend of mine (-=Jeff=- on the forum) made me a VATS bypass with a wire and a resistor that installed under the dash. Total cost, about a dollar.
I bought him a steak for helping me fix the problem. :thumbs:
[Modified by Patrick96LT4, 7:34 PM 12/20/2002]
Turned out the connectors in the steering column that touch the chip on the key where not touching the key. So, 7 out of 10 times when would attempt to start the car the VATS (vehicle anti theft system) would disable the starter so the car wouldn't start (then stays that way for 3-5 minutes), and I would hear nothing, not even a click - like a bone-dead battery... but then it'd start the next day! Or next hour....
In order to solve the problem and not tear into the steering column, a friend of mine (-=Jeff=- on the forum) made me a VATS bypass with a wire and a resistor that installed under the dash. Total cost, about a dollar.
I bought him a steak for helping me fix the problem. :thumbs:
[Modified by Patrick96LT4, 7:34 PM 12/20/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Lake George NY
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: 96 starting problems? (mikeslt4)
dont feel bad, my battery is on the blink also, my "SYS" light keeps coming on, but not all the time, it depends on what the car feels like doing. Im almost positive its the battery, I had to jump it once already, thank goodness I was only changing the oil when it went on me. I dont really drive it right now so I'm not too worried. Im told if your storing the car for the winter you should unhook the battery cables. you should also take the car off the ground about an inch or so to keep your tires from dry rotting if your going to let it sit all winter. :cheers:
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,381
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From: Pineville, Louisiana
Re: 96 starting problems? (Patrick96LT4)
My car is basically doing the same thing but not quiet as often. Mine only does it about every other week, then 3 to 5 minutes later it starts. :confused: I am gonna take it in to a shop someplace next week and have that fixed unless I can find out how to do the fix from above. ..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: www.corvetteflorida.com
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: 96 starting problems? (mikeslt4)
My VATS is history. Has to be something else. Just got home (11:45 pm) so obviously I havn't had the time to fool with it today. I'll look at the battery tomorrow
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,694
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From: Gurnee IL
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 96 starting problems? (CowboyNVette)
My car is basically doing the same thing but not quiet as often. Mine only does it about every other week, then 3 to 5 minutes later it starts. :confused: I am gonna take it in to a shop someplace next week and have that fixed unless I can find out how to do the fix from above. ..
[Modified by Patrick96LT4, 1:11 AM 12/21/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,883
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From: www.corvetteflorida.com
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: 96 starting problems? (Patrick96LT4)
Got the starting problem fixed. If you havn't done so already, check your cables. Seems one of my cables was messed up and not making a good connection (it was tight, but screwed up elsewhere). Replaced the cable and VIOLA!!! instant start :D .
Can't tell they are trashed by just looking at them, but if it's doing what we were talking about, that's the first place I'd start.
Let us know what happens.
Good luck
:cheers: :seeya :flag :thumbs: :steering:
Can't tell they are trashed by just looking at them, but if it's doing what we were talking about, that's the first place I'd start.
Let us know what happens.
Good luck
:cheers: :seeya :flag :thumbs: :steering:
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 70
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From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: 96 starting problems? (STREETKNIGHT)
Yea Streetnight same problem here, all I did was clean the the cables real good and she starts up like a charm now!! Thanks for all the responds guys!
