Starting problem?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 2
From: Summerville SC
Starting problem?
:seeya I hope someone has an answer for this one. :yesnod: My 90 Vette sometimes doesn't want to start... I'll turn the key and nothing happens I will keep trying to start it until it does start sometimes it takes 20 min. sometimes 30 min. than it'll start like there's nothing wrong. It doesn't happen often but it's happened atleast 6 times. :eek: This is with a brand new AC DELCO starter. It also happen a few times before the new starter thats why I bought a new starter in the first place. Any ideas please... I have another NEW starter ready to go on. :skep:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Starting problem? (Intimidator454)
Don't keep trying to start the car because if the contacts in the tumbler that make with the pellet are worn and VATS doesn't read the correct resistance 2 times, it shuts down for 4 minutes and if you keep at it, it just keeps shutting down. After two tries, wait 5 minutes and try again with your spare key. You can prove its the tumbler contacts by finding the wires from the tumbler (on my 87 they come out the bottom of the steering column under the carpet and go to a 2 pin connector), unplug the 2 pin connector and measure the resistance on the wires from the tumbler with your ign key in place. It should measure the same as your pellet. If over 13k ohms, you need a new tumbler. You can bypass VATS by clipping a fixed resistor the same value as your pellet onto the wires going over to the passenger side (VATS module), but don't do this permanently as 99% of thefts are done by bashing the column and jumping the ign.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 2
From: Summerville SC
Re: Starting problem? (jfb)
:seeya Thanks for the info I'll have to check into that. :thumbs: Hopefully it's a easy fix. :yesnod: Do you know if the dealership would have something to check the key so I can order the right ohms resistances. :skep:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Re: Starting problem? (Intimidator454)
Yes! The dealer should have a "test box" that checks the key pellet.
Standby, the key price is still a bit pricey at 27 bucks a wack! :chevy
Standby, the key price is still a bit pricey at 27 bucks a wack! :chevy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque NM
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Re: Starting problem? (JrRifleCoach)
Dumb question, but how are the contacts with the starter? Mine was just giving me problems up until yesterday, when I cleaned off all kinds of dirt and whatnot that had gathered up underneath the engine. It seems as though it had never been cleaned off. My symptoms sounded exactly like yours as well. Good luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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