I have a 96 LT1 mostly stock, I recently (a month ago) replaced the starter and waterpump no problems. Then last week I replaced my worn out cap and rotor with the new MSD cap and rotor and along with the MSD coil. I put everything back together and the car will not even turn over.
*I Checked the battery connections
*I Checked the battery voltage (at the battery and on the dash)
*I put a bettery charger on (just incase) and new bettery terminal connectors
*The starter has the main power cable with power but does not get power to the little solenoid wire when i turn the key.
*I checked all fuses
*When i put the key in the ignition the dash lights come on as normal and everything else seems fine it just wont turn over.
*I went under the car touched the post on the starter with a screwdriver the car turned over but would not start.
*I tried a new key
* checked and rechecked everything that i disconeccted or was even close to.
*no check engine lights are on. and everything in the car is fine.
before this i never really had any problems.
I NEED HLEP,suggestions, or maybe even a solution.

By the way I called the local CHEVY dealer and they wont work on or even look at any car older then ten years and the 07's have arrived so that means they will not look at my 1996 corvette.

 

Are you saying that the starter turns when the key is in the igintion and is turned?

If your not getting and starter movement attempt at all, even if you were to bypass the key and jump the starter with a screwdrive, it could be vats. Vats disables the fuel as well as the starter.

It takes 5 minutes for the vats counter to reset before it will even accept a good key.

 

The starter solenoid gets power through the ign sw to the start enable relay to the clutch safety switch (gear selector sw if automatic). The start enable relay is closed by the VATS module when it detects the correct ign key pellet resistance. First jump the clutch safety switch and measure the voltage on the jumper to ground when you turn the ign sw to crank. If you have 12v in crank, then your VATS is ok and your starter should crank. If no 12v, then you need to check if the ign tumbler contacts are making connection to your pellet. I don't know if its the same for 96, but my 87 has two wires coming from the steering column (remove the hush panel above the drivers feet) that goes to a 2 pin connector. Unplug the connector, insert your ign key and measure the resistance across the wires from the steering column. It should measure the same as your pellet and if over 13k ohms, you need a new ign tumbler which has new contacts the connect to the pellet. You can temporarily bypass VATS until you can schedule a new tumbler by connecting a resistor the same value as your pellet across the two wires that go into the harness (goes to the VATS module) . A 1/4 watt 5% resistor from Radio Shack will work fine. Don't permanently bypass VATS because 99% of thefts are done by bashing the column
and jumping the ignition.

 

cold B and jfb, first of all thanks for the response.
to answer cold b i get no response at all from the starter while inserting the key and turning it (the starter does nothing but the dash lights up)
and to jfb i will try what you said and see if that works tomorrow morning 25/5/06 then i will post my results. thanks for the info. by the way how did you learn that?
thanks again.

 

If the car wont turn over 'After' you just did all those mods, then the problem is there. recheck, triple check.. its definitely something that is being overlooked. AT least thats what i think. hope you figure it out!