1992 vette killed itself
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
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1992 vette killed itself
So as I left for school today my 92 vette decided to shut its self off at about 30mph. Long story short I turn the key i believe I hear the fuel pump and power antenna run and then when I turn the key to initiate the starter nothing happens. When I say nothing happens I mean no click no nothing. I have had a problem with the opti-spark shutting the car off but I just replaced it, and during that problem the starter always turned over. And just for the record no my battery is not dead. If anybody has any idea what this is please give me a suggestion.
-Nick
-Nick
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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Interesting.
Dying at speed would imply something electrical -- and not related to the starter. For example, the ECM could have "died". But I don't believe that would prevent the engine from turning over with the key. It would affect the trigger for the fuel-pump operation...or the ECM's ability to monitor spark.
Totally siezed motor? Hard to believe you got THAT unlucky!
Dying at speed would imply something electrical -- and not related to the starter. For example, the ECM could have "died". But I don't believe that would prevent the engine from turning over with the key. It would affect the trigger for the fuel-pump operation...or the ECM's ability to monitor spark.
Totally siezed motor? Hard to believe you got THAT unlucky!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Have the basics been checked?
oil?
water?
does the engine turn over AT all after it died at 30mph? or has it NOT turned over ANY since that event?
If it shut itself off at 30 mph, Gregg makes a good point...it could have seized.
IF that did not happen then the battery cables are loose OR the power source wires to the ECM or engine control systems are loose. Check ALL pos and Neg wires from the battery to frame, ground and especially the harness. Test the fuse panel with a test lite or DVM for power to the panel. Test at the starter as well.
IF there IS power to everything, and the engine is NOT locked up, you have to consider VATS. A genuine VATS incident will stop the starter from turning the engine over. Everything else works, just not the starter or the fuel injectors.
You can jump the starter enable relay to see if it is a VATS issue. It may be a bad SER...
Fuel pressure at key ON ?
Try spare key?
Lots of things to look at. Dying at 30 mph is 99.999% of the time a loose battery cable somewhere. Not necessarily at the battery.
oil?
water?
does the engine turn over AT all after it died at 30mph? or has it NOT turned over ANY since that event?
If it shut itself off at 30 mph, Gregg makes a good point...it could have seized.
IF that did not happen then the battery cables are loose OR the power source wires to the ECM or engine control systems are loose. Check ALL pos and Neg wires from the battery to frame, ground and especially the harness. Test the fuse panel with a test lite or DVM for power to the panel. Test at the starter as well.
IF there IS power to everything, and the engine is NOT locked up, you have to consider VATS. A genuine VATS incident will stop the starter from turning the engine over. Everything else works, just not the starter or the fuel injectors.
You can jump the starter enable relay to see if it is a VATS issue. It may be a bad SER...
Fuel pressure at key ON ?
Try spare key?
Lots of things to look at. Dying at 30 mph is 99.999% of the time a loose battery cable somewhere. Not necessarily at the battery.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
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I don't think the engine is seized. I checked the oil last week the level was fine. And when the car died the engine didn't lock up the momentum kept the engine turning. The stater just seems to be doing nothing.
I'll look for loose connections, maybe Ill be able to drop the clutch and get her to start so I can get her home.
I've got to do some research on VATS being that i don't know what that is at all... any tips on dealing with it?
-Nick
I'll look for loose connections, maybe Ill be able to drop the clutch and get her to start so I can get her home.
I've got to do some research on VATS being that i don't know what that is at all... any tips on dealing with it?
-Nick
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 800
Likes: 2
Sound electrical since you say it just died and you get no click at all from starter so no attempt at even spinning over the engine. Have you checked for any blown fuses? Could be as simple as a blown fuse. After that I would inspect the harness between the battery and starter. I think there should be a fusible link in line somewhere that could have broke, though if it was from a power surge I would want to know why.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 36
From: Coldville
So as I left for school today my 92 vette decided to shut its self off at about 30mph. Long story short I turn the key i believe I hear the fuel pump and power antenna run and then when I turn the key to initiate the starter nothing happens. When I say nothing happens I mean no click no nothing. I have had a problem with the opti-spark shutting the car off but I just replaced it, and during that problem the starter always turned over. And just for the record no my battery is not dead. If anybody has any idea what this is please give me a suggestion.
-Nick
-Nick
Sounds Fuel related.
Are you sure you hear the fuel pump?
Id make sure there is enough fuel in the tank also.
Even if it is very low the system shuts down when the fuel is really low to prevent the Pump from over heating.
The pump is cooled by the fuel.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
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Fuel would not prevent the engine from spinning over. Just from running.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
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From: Houston Texas
When was the last time you checked the battery? If the alternator went out it would suck down a perfectly good battery and would not start. also ck all your battery and starter connections.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22
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From: Chambersburg Pennsylvania
Sounds like your alternator may have taken a crap. I Had a bad one. My car started fine, I drove it for about 20 minutes and then it just died on me. I coasted to the side of the road and when I tried to restart it I got nothing no click, no starter just dim lights and I could hear the fuel pump start. I replaced the alternator and haven't had a problem since.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
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Sounds like your alternator may have taken a crap. I Had a bad one. My car started fine, I drove it for about 20 minutes and then it just died on me. I coasted to the side of the road and when I tried to restart it I got nothing no click, no starter just dim lights and I could hear the fuel pump start. I replaced the alternator and haven't had a problem since.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Yeah...this sounds like the most likely option. Without a functioning alternator, power would drop until sufficient spark wasn't possible. And, w/o sufficient spark, you'd also have inability for the starter to turn-over.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 800
Likes: 2
Charge the battery, start car put you multimeter across the battery terminals, you should see roughly 14 volts. Do this with you sound system off. Then then turn system on and see what the alt is doing. If it is below 12 volts at anytime you may want to replace it or have it rebuilt stronger than stock.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
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Charge the battery, start car put you multimeter across the battery terminals, you should see roughly 14 volts. Do this with you sound system off. Then then turn system on and see what the alt is doing. If it is below 12 volts at anytime you may want to replace it or have it rebuilt stronger than stock.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22
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From: Chambersburg Pennsylvania
I had lights but they were very dim. I don't know much about the stereo system but if the lights were dimming during play it sounds like your alternator might not have been strong enough to support the sound system. A Charged battery might be enough to get you home.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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I wasn't running the stereo hard but it has the potential to pull harder than the alternator can supply. I will have to bring a voltmeter and something to charge the damn thing with. Ill steal power from the HOA building haha. If they complain ill just remind them that I fund them. I'm less than a 1/4 mile from home so maybe I can limp her back to where the tools are. Or I can have a long push ahead of me.