Okay, so i am knew to this forum and new to discussing these problems, but i will do my best.

The problem is with a 1988 corvette and i am not sure what is causing it because it does not happen every time. When i turn the ignition it seems that the starter motor will not engage to turn the motor over. There is always a bzzzzzzzz sound coming from the engine. I have replaced the starter motor before and the problem still occurs. Although, when i turn it off and try it again the car will startup normally. I am not sure what is causing it and hope someone can shed some light.

Also i just recently picked up the corvette with a brand new upholstery on the seats, center console, side door panels and gear shifter. I will post some pics up later.

Thanks

 

An easy first thing to do is to remove the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, bolts and battery terminals and replace the cables (neg last). Starter motors draw large current (100 amps) and this requires a very low resistance battery connection. Battery posts are subject to an acid atmosphere and it is a good idea to clean your battery connections once a year. Buzzing can be due to a resistance connection which causes the starter solenoid to pull in, the starter motor attempts to draw large current, voltage drops due to poor cable connection and the voltage drops so far that the starter solenoid drops out and this repeats so rapidly that you hear a buzz. Another test is to measure the battery terminal voltage when it won't start. Have someone hit crank, or put your voltmeter on the windshield and connected to the battery terminals and hit crank. Battery voltage must not fall below 9.0 volts or you have poor cable connection, discharged battery, or a battery that is at the end of its life. No load, you can tell the battery state of charge by measuring the voltage at the battery terminals. 12.0 volts and below, discharged, charge your battery up overnight with a battery charger. 12.9 volts and above, fully charged and linear in between. Running the engine after jump starting it will not charge a battery up very far and discharged batteries draw large current at first and this heats up alternators and shortens their life. Always use a battery charger!

 

so i went out to the garage, took out the volt meter and it turned out that i was reading 12.9 and above... so it was clear that a weak battery was not the issue... any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

The buzz noise you're talking about... was the starter turning or was it all quiet except for an electrical buzz?

 

it sounded like a physical grinding noise, it is not an electrical sound, as if it is not engaging the fly wheel

 

Since it sounds like a "physical grinding noise" and you replaced the starter - it could have a damaged ring gear on the flexplate/flywheel.

When it does that I'd pull the starter and look at the teeth on the flywheel and see if they're damaged at all.

 

Sure its not the fuel pump priming?

 

Perhaps your starter needs to be shimmed to allow the gear on the starter motor shaft to engage the flywheel teeth properly. If this is the case, you can experiment with shims of various thickness and see if the starter begins to engage the flywheel as it should.