85 Won't Start
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 1
From: Peoria AZ
85 Won't Start
I have an 85 Vette that will not even turn over like there is NO power to the starter. My car is at my fathers house and I had a guy coming to look at it today to possibly purchase it, my dad went out to see if it was ready to be looked at (the car hasn't been driven all summer) he went out to start it and the battery was DEAD, he then jumped it with a booster charger....long story short, he bought a new battery and now there is NOTHING....it won't even crank. I had an extra ECM so I changed that thinking maybe he fried it trying to jump it...nothing different. All the other components such as the dash and the headlights etc all work fine, when you try and start it with the headlights on the headlights do NOT dim at all. Any ideas?? I really need to get this car running and SOLD. Thanks!! SEAN 
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 635
Likes: 0
From: Cambria CA
might be simple, but check the fuses.. I had my brake fuse go out and as a safetly feature(i think) the speedo/odom disapeared and the flip stereo froze in place. pulled over and it wouldnt crank at all. this is where are situations are relevant. but i dont think anything worked inside, like the lights/stereo/ac, so its probably not the fuses, I'm not sure, just a noob 
gl to u
gl to u
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 1
From: Peoria AZ
Originally Posted by gbody5
How old is the starter?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Crestwood Mo
Originally Posted by Sean Dunshee
Not sure...could be the original. But I am thinking that the starter is not getting any power since when you have the headlights on and try to start it they do not dim. I could be wrong.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 762
Likes: 2
From: Huntington ma
Try cycling the alarm system on and off. The alarm has a starter interrupt relay (disconnects the solenoid power lead)- it Could be bad, or it could be that the alarm needs to be reset since the dead battery incident...
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
I had the same problem with my 86
Don’t forget about the VATS system (vehicle anti theft system).
That is always a problem!!!
I would install a vats bypass switch too!!!
Also if your key (witch has a resistor in it) is bad, that will do it.
Good luck
Ebm257
Don’t forget about the VATS system (vehicle anti theft system).
That is always a problem!!!
I would install a vats bypass switch too!!!
Also if your key (witch has a resistor in it) is bad, that will do it.
Good luck
Ebm257
