Starting issue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
Starting issue
Ok, car has run fine all day, put about 60 miles on it. Parked it for about 15 minutes. Went out to start it. Power came on, turned over, i let off too soon and it didnt catch. Then all power went out. No lights, no dash, nothing.
I thought it might be battery, tried to jump it, didnt change anything. Its like the battery is dead, but the battery has power. Any ideas? Did I blow a fuse or something?
I thought it might be battery, tried to jump it, didnt change anything. Its like the battery is dead, but the battery has power. Any ideas? Did I blow a fuse or something?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Check the cables lugs for good connections and tightness. If you feel the battery is suspect have it load tested. Could be an ignition switch problem too...do you get any dash lights with the key in any position?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
I agree with engle, remove your battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, battery posts, and the bolts and replace (neg last). Battery connections need to be like your lover, bright and tight! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Washington District of Columbia
Ok, car has run fine all day, put about 60 miles on it. Parked it for about 15 minutes. Went out to start it. Power came on, turned over, i let off too soon and it didnt catch. Then all power went out. No lights, no dash, nothing.
I thought it might be battery, tried to jump it, didnt change anything. Its like the battery is dead, but the battery has power. Any ideas? Did I blow a fuse or something?
I thought it might be battery, tried to jump it, didnt change anything. Its like the battery is dead, but the battery has power. Any ideas? Did I blow a fuse or something?
kinda rotated the battery cables on the terminals and it kicked over.
Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
I had tried wiggling the cables, and didnt seem to change anything. I started rotating around the terminals, i turned positive one, nothing. Turned the neg one, lights came on under hood. Starts up. Thanks.
Last edited by Falsus Nomen; Feb 21, 2009 at 07:33 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
It would help if you told us the year vette you are asking help for. Earlier C4's have a fusible link from the jump start terminal behind the battery to the ignition switch and everything inside the car is powered through this fusible link. One of the 8 red wires on this terminal goes to the ignition switch. On the later C4's there is a fuse block next to the battery and one of the fuses goes to the ignition switch. The fuses should be checked with an ohmeter (it sees better than you do), and you should look at the fuse clips and fuse blades and determine if they are bright and clean and making good electrical connection.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,551
Likes: 36
From: Jenks OK
No dash lights, nothing at all. Even with it hooked up with jumper cables to a running car it still doesnt light up anything.
I had tried wiggling the cables, and didnt seem to change anything. I started rotating around the terminals, i turned positive one, nothing. Turned the neg one, lights came on under hood. Starts up. Thanks.
I had tried wiggling the cables, and didnt seem to change anything. I started rotating around the terminals, i turned positive one, nothing. Turned the neg one, lights came on under hood. Starts up. Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 53
From: Philadelphia Pa
87 vette. Drove car all day last weekend. put it in drive way. Went out about hour later nada, nothing, no start. Finally had it towed to my mechanic. $50. That night, I go over to to find out what the problem was, expecting major $$$, he says to me, "Steve, you been screwing with the battery terminals?", answer "yep". his bill $0. Hell of a nice guy.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX