I wanted to start up my Vette today for the first time in a month, but after connecting the battery back up, the car will not start. It turns over but thats it. There is almost half a tank of gas in there, and I could smell it after popping the hood. The fuel pressure gauge show 41-45.
I checked all interior and exterior fuses and nothing is fried. It used to start in half a second before. What could it be? I didn't touch it or do anything before letting it sit for a month. I like to start it up at least once a month during the winter. I've never had a problem in the past. Can something go bad just sitting there that will cause it not to start? I checked all the wires and they are all plugged in. The ignition module is all connected. The Opti is all plugged in. The battery reads 11.4 voltage on the dash. Will it start if I jump start (pop the clutch)?
I'm waited for the OBD ELM327 I ordered off eBay to arrive to diagnose it
thanks.

 

There are three things to be sure about... fuel, spark and air.

Do you have spark?

Does it even crank?

You have fuel... but I wonder... I am wondering if the VATS is biting you in the ***.

 

Charge the battery to at the very least 12.6 volts, but 13V or higher would be better. Then trying again.

 

Yes there is crank, it just spins. The dash shows a little less than half tank of gas. I'll check for spark tomorrow, and I'll pull up my winter beater to charge the battery. I don't think its the VATS, I tried both key sets, and the crank spins.

 

do yourself a favour and get a real charger. All that will happen with the beater is you will kill it's alternator.

I agree, you need more voltage. There might be a voltage fault that the PCM/CCM doesn't like. Also, if you were to get it started at 11v, all that would do is tear up the alternator on the Vette.

It's important to realize what the alternator REALLY does... it trickles the battery to keep it peaked, basically recharging the small loss of current during the starting process, and then running the cars electrical system.

 

update..
With Spring fast approaching, I went down and tried again. I got the Volts up to 13.5 and tried, it just spins and I smell fuel after popping the hood.
I then pulled one of the plugs out and with checked for spark against the headers and nothing. I don't have spark... Now what the heck would have caused this? It was running perfectly fine when I parked it in November.
What shall I do now? I would be impossible for me to call a flat bed tow truck to pull it from the underground parking garage.

 

I'm going to go with the answer I always go with since this was my problem. Check the wire going from the coil to the opti, make sure it isn't rubbing against the water pump.

 

Here's what I encountered recently:

I'm visiting relatives in Indiana. A week or so ago my niece's husband stopped for gas on the way home from work, buying only $10.00 worth.

Next day, after the Blazer sat all night, it wouldn't start. Cranked normally by wouldn't start, not even hit like it wanted to. So he and I set out to check everything.

Blazer had fuel and a good strong spark, but still no start. We tried HEET in the tank, but still no good. I then pumped out all the gas in the tank - suspecting he had gotten some bad gas having water in it - and replaced it with five gallons of premium from a different gas station and added more HEET. This time we poured in two bottles, but still no start.

Blazer sat for four of five days before we could attack the problem again. He bought new plugs, rotor and fuel filter while we waited for a day when the temps were a bit higher.

Outside temps climbed to the low 50's so we decided to have at it again, but on a lark decided to try starting it one more time.

Engine fired instantly and ran normally again.

I suspect gas line freeze (which may also have frozen the injectors) was the cause.

If yours has been sitting outdoors, you may be experiencing the same condition, especially in your neck of the woods.

Hope this helps.

Jake

 

I just came back up from checking this exact wire. It all looks snug in place. How do people work on these things? You can't see or get to anything.
I ran the OBD on it and no codes. I don't think its the Opti because it has been replaced less than 15,000 miles ago.
I park underground so I doubt the fuel lines were frozen.
What tools do I need to test backwards from the "no spark"?

 

you need a scanner to check high res and low res pulses. Check codes and then reply back.

 

Can you please refer me to a type of scanner to buy and how to use? I've never any diagnostic stuff on this car, always took it in. But I don't think I'll be able to tow it out of the underground with a flatbed, so I need this thing started.

thanks.

 

if you are not that familiar with this, you might be better off with a professional repair shop.

 

Bad coil, bad ignition control module, or bad opti will typically cause that. Most likely it's one of the first two.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll start with replacing the coil. I found this one on Ecklers, but they seem to be out of stock. Any suggestions on where I could pick one up?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1124

 

Chris May @ Superior Chevrolet. They're a Forum sponsor and sell at 10% over wholesale.

 

To scan data on a '96 you need a software package like AutoTap (~$250) plus a laptop to run it on.

 

good news... Got her running tonight and was able to warm up the tires just nicely. It ended up being the MDS coil. I took it apart and it started right up without it. I'll have a look at that thing later in the spring.

 

Do you have any contact info for him? Website, phone.