Prolonged cranking to start
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: 89 med blue 65k Bartlett, IL
Prolonged cranking to start
Just bought a 1989 with 64k on it. Overall car is great but have one issue that I will need to have fixed. I did have a mechanic look over vehicle before i bought it. He told me he would have to do a much more indepth check of the car to diagnose the exact problem. I stil bought the car because both he and I felt the price was well worth the vehicle. Anyways I was hoping to get an idea of what i can expect to hear the problem might be, before i take it into the shop. When turning the ignition to start, the car cranks for about 2 seconds before it finally starts. It always starts, yet it always has an extended cranking period before it starts, whether the car is hot or cold. I am brand new to CF and brand new to owning a corvette, so if you are kind of enough to reply, please try and use nice and simple terms. Thanks much 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
2sec or 20sec?You need to check your fuel pressure and do a leak down test on it.You are either leaking back to the tank(fuel pump) or leaking into the intake(pressure regulator) is my guess.It could be a bad fuel pump or clogged filter too.Filter should be changed on a newly recieved car as general maintenance.All of these things can be done by you saving a lot of money.A Helms manual would help too.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: 89 med blue 65k Bartlett, IL
Thanks Red, the cranking lasts for no more than 2 seconds, but always happens. I did find on CF that a brand new C4 owner should get the book "101 projects for your..." so i ordered it 2 days ago. Again, I am a total newb to this, the Helms? gonna check google for it, hopefully i can figure that out.
thanks again
thanks again
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Helms is the factory service manual about $100 at Helms cheaper if you can get one on eBay.
2 sec is not extended cranking mine was taking 10-15sec before I fixed it now it is about 2 sec at the most. Try turning the key on and waiting for 4 sec before starting to allow the fuel rail to pressurize.Turning it straight to start can take a sec for the fuel to flow. If you leave the hood up when you turn the key on you may hear the fuel rushing into the rails.
2 sec is not extended cranking mine was taking 10-15sec before I fixed it now it is about 2 sec at the most. Try turning the key on and waiting for 4 sec before starting to allow the fuel rail to pressurize.Turning it straight to start can take a sec for the fuel to flow. If you leave the hood up when you turn the key on you may hear the fuel rushing into the rails.
