Hey Bogus, sorry to hear you are havin any probs. But if it isnt the battery , starters must be drawing to many amps. Primary ignition system on these cant be that different, is there a fuseable link on yours? You mention battery is down to 8 amps yeah (new is usually down) mine barely turns over w/8amps. Let us know when you get it bumped up. Dont remember, did it even try to crank w/8amps?

 

It is very bad juju for Bogus to be having problems, he is always helping someone else. Before I learned that the alarm,etc in my 87 would drain my battery in a few days I was having slow, hard starting and destroyed my battery. After the new battery and the float charger it starts immediately and doesn't turn over more than twice before it is running. Hoping that you have a cheap easy fix!

 

Just a couple of more thoughts. Before it quit turning over completely, did you turn it much without cool down time for the starter? This could have caused starter damage even more quickly with the weak battery and bad connections. Also because you said the terminals were pretty dirty, make sure and inspect them carefully to make sure the corrosion hasn't spread back under the insulation. Also check them for voltage drop over their entire length.

 

I am going to tear into it tomorrow morn, but I need to get the car home before I can do that.

Personally, I think the starter is DOA. The volts started at 12.6 after my latest attempt, but dropped to 7.8, which tells me that the starter is more then likely dead shorted inside.

The new battery seems ok... it was a bit soft before I put on the charger tonite, but took a good topping off and looked good on the charger.

The starter will crank about 1/2"(!) before it stops, which leads me to believe it's toast. This is after the starter has had a chance to fully cool.

The fusable links look fine, but I would expect them to be ok - other things would not work right if it wasn't.

What I am going to do is pull the starter and test it off the car. This will tell me what it is or isn't doing. More then likely, I will take it to someplace like Autozone for a quick test. Then find a rebuilder to fix it. The upside is that the starter used by the 1992s are Mitsubishi and are very easy to rebuild. Also, I bought it at Advance Auto, which are Kragen's here, I might be able to exersize my warrantee. I need to check into that.

The cables look pretty good, there is no sign of corrosion on the wires, but I will check all of that very carefully tomorrow.

I am actually pretty good with electronics and electrical, but I have never had a car that has had cranking system problems, so this is a learning experience.

 

Bogus,

You are the smartest one on here. You traced it down to a possible starter problem-which is what it sounds like.

I don't think you need any advise from me-so I will just wish you good luck. Thanks for posting, as this thread will help someone else also.

Steven

 

slurp. slurp, gulp

 

hope the brew is cold...

 

Bogus, Here's 3 pages of info on the subject. It's not Corvette specific and you may already know most of it but you may find parts of it useful in your current situation. The 2nd page in particular if your going to test starter.
http://www.users.bigpond.com/jack_st...to_elec_1.html

Good luck man.

 

thanks!!!

 

bummer about the batt not doing it,but it sounds like you were due for one anyway.
fords method of a remote solenoid on the fenderwell does have a definate advantage over gms starter mounted solenoid.
if you see some evidence of heat at the solenoid connections when pulling the starter you know where all your brand new amps have been going
bummer part is these high torque lt1 mini starters aint cheap
they usually last a heck of a long time though which has me concerned that it may not be the cause.

 

I found a local shop that rebuilds alternators and starters... they will more then likely get a starter sometime tomorrow.

The annoying part, I can't fix the real problem until I repair/replace the starter...

I am also waiting to see if I can exchange this part at the local Kragen... I bought it at an Advance Auto back in DE, but I live in CA now, and there are no AAs here in CA!!!

 

Bogus, If you rebuild the starter that is great. Otherwise get a new Denso from GM. The Autozone, Advance and Car Quest out here put $hitty gears in theirs. The gear has no back stop and they shot past the flywheel and grab on the rear of the teeth. It will start it, but the teeth will turn with the motor.
Went to the nearest dealer and started telling him the story and he finished the story for me. Apparently alot end up with this problem.
I tried them all and they all did that a couple of weeks ago on me. My original and the Denso unit both had a type of plate to stop the gear travel on the flywheel. The Denso is pricey though, twice as much then the others. But after all the starter swaps and driving back and forth it was just worth it.
I had two problems at one time also. This might be of interest to you. My battery was also dead. I thought at first that the clicking was a dead batt. and it was part of it. Barely even jumped it. So, put a new batt. in it and then click, click, click when trying to start. Great now the starter is shot. If I turned the ignition key fast enuff a time or two the starter would engage. After all my ordeals with the rebuilds, and finally just breaking down and getting a new one the car is good to go.
Alt. checks out. And NO SES lights what so ever at anytime. The great thing about all this computer stuff is, it just can't tell you what is wrong all the time.
Hope this helps in some way.

 

What the ___ is a Denso? Are you making fun of AC Delco?

 

Denso is what GM dealers are carrying these days. Kinda like Delphi.

Delphi is all in my 01 Z from the factory. AC Delco isn't making alot of stuff like they used to.

 

Denso is a Japanese component maker. The starter is a Mistubishi design, and built by Denso.

The reman in my car is from Advance and has held up for 4 years. I suspect the extended cranking was the deal knell for it.

At this time, I cannot afford a new GM part...

Advance will support the warrantee. Once I determine the condition of the starter, I can buy a new one, mail them reciepts and they will reinburse. The upside to this warrantee is that I get a new warrantee with the new starter!!!

Caboboy - make sure your towing insurance is up, I just had mine towed...

 

So, any forum members out there that bogus can ship it to?

 

Surprised nobody said this - but can't you at least TRY and bump start the bastard? You got a 6sp right?

All this sounds a lot more complicated then it should be. Ps. I might have a second starter from my old motor.. I don't nkow if they interchange, but I got the small one for the black tagged ZF6, and yes I think it's a nippon denso. It's 16 years old, but ASAIK it still works..

 

I didn't have the space, and I didn't want to hurt things... The car isn't in the mood to start, so I didn't honestly expect a bump start to get it going.

I have the word from AA - they will honour the warrantee. What I do is buy a new starter, and they will reinburse me for it. Fair enough.

I see you are back, safe and sound, Brian! That's GREAT! When did you roll in?

 

Oh, about 2:30 this morning. The Vette was in the garage, and I was in bed at 3:30, up at 6:30.

 

Tap on that starter. Old school technique. HEHE