Cranking and Dash Display Problems
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Cranking and Dash Display Problems
I brought a 84 Vette that sat for a year and put a new fuel pump in it. It ran very well from the shop to my house, but then after letting it sit for 4 hours, it would not start, crank, or turn over. I thought it was the battery, so I charged it and tried starting it the next day, but the same thing happened, and this time my digital dash was going bananas, flickering and flashing, and every time I try to start the car the dash does the same thing. Does anyone know what the problem might be?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Coram NY
When you replaced the battery did it start at that time? you may have something that is killing the battery.
DId you replace it with another old battery or a new one?
If your battery is old, and you have a marginal or bad starter. if you try to start the car, it will load down the voltage, not turn over and can make the display go crazy. You may need to systematically pull the connectors from the ECU, the display, etc. and spray then (both connections) with contact cleaner. test your battery first make sure it is good.
Tom
DId you replace it with another old battery or a new one?
If your battery is old, and you have a marginal or bad starter. if you try to start the car, it will load down the voltage, not turn over and can make the display go crazy. You may need to systematically pull the connectors from the ECU, the display, etc. and spray then (both connections) with contact cleaner. test your battery first make sure it is good.
Tom
Last edited by tdr1919; Mar 7, 2009 at 03:06 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: Acworth Ga
You will probably be installing a new battery. It could be the one you have now has a short across 2 or more cells. It'll seem to take a charge ok but drain right down before you blink an eye. Pull it out, take it to Autozone, Advanced, Wal-mart, or any battery retailer that can test it. They'll let you know what going on with it in 5 minutes. If the battery is OK then ther is something in the car that is draining the battery. But since you charged overnite I suspect the battery is bad. Keep us informed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
I brought a 84 Vette that sat for a year and put a new fuel pump in it. It ran very well from the shop to my house, but then after letting it sit for 4 hours, it would not start, crank, or turn over. I thought it was the battery, so I charged it and tried starting it the next day, but the same thing happened, and this time my digital dash was going bananas, flickering and flashing, and every time I try to start the car the dash does the same thing. Does anyone know what the problem might be?
with the posts above...you might need a new battery...clean and check your connections also. The digital dash does a "self test" (lights every thing up of 2 seconds) once the key switch hits the run or start postion this is normal...dropping or dipping the power/voltage that goes to the cluster will send the cluster into a self testing fury.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Cranking and Display Problems
When you replaced the battery did it start at that time? you may have something that is killing the battery.
DId you replace it with another old battery or a new one?
If your battery is old, and you have a marginal or bad starter. if you try to start the car, it will load down the voltage, not turn over and can make the display go crazy. You may need to systematically pull the connectors from the ECU, the display, etc. and spray then (both connections) with contact cleaner. test your battery first make sure it is good.
Tom
DId you replace it with another old battery or a new one?
If your battery is old, and you have a marginal or bad starter. if you try to start the car, it will load down the voltage, not turn over and can make the display go crazy. You may need to systematically pull the connectors from the ECU, the display, etc. and spray then (both connections) with contact cleaner. test your battery first make sure it is good.
Tom
Tony
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Hello, before the dash started acting crazy (blinking in and out) the voltage when starting the car would be from 10.8 to 11.3 volts, and while driving it, it would fluctuate from 10.3 to 10.8 volts. Then after 4 hours of sitting, it read 11.1 and started going down, but never cranked or turned over.
