C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Corvette won’t atart

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 26, 2019 | 03:15 PM
  #1  
Robjack's Avatar
Robjack
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default Corvette won’t atart

My 1993 Corvette won’t start ?!? I have a 93 Auto and I turn the key and silence, no clicking, Ive since jumped it assuming the battery was dead and “still” silence, there’s no blinking security or anything but still car will not start, can anyon help??
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2019 | 03:37 PM
  #2  
Vette_DD's Avatar
Vette_DD
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Default

Welcome to the forum.

Wait for a moderator to move this thread to the C4 forum for you.
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2019 | 03:54 PM
  #3  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,772
Likes: 24,683
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

Moved to C4 Tech/Performance for some help.
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2019 | 07:37 AM
  #4  
Waterloo Wonder's Avatar
Waterloo Wonder
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 142
Likes: 36
From: Southern New Hampshire
Default

Checking a few things out and providing more information to the forum could bring more answers.

Do the headlights work at full brightness? If not, have you had the battery charged? Tested? If lights are bright, are the terminal connections clean and tight?

I would start there. If the battery is strong I would suspect the starter next. Pull it and have it bench tested.

Reply
Old Oct 27, 2019 | 08:23 AM
  #5  
RalfKramden's Avatar
RalfKramden
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 125
Likes: 25
From: NY
Default

Is the dash lighting up? You didn't say and the fact that you thought to charge the battery first makes me wonder. Try removing the battery terminals and make sure they're clean and tight.

Most important thing is to get a FSM (Factory Service Manual) so you can check wiring diagrams (assuming it's an electrical issue and not a bad starter as Waterloo suggests.)
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2019 | 11:31 AM
  #6  
Robjack's Avatar
Robjack
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default no Start

Originally Posted by RalfKramden
Is the dash lighting up? You didn't say and the fact that you thought to charge the battery first makes me wonder. Try removing the battery terminals and make sure they're clean and tight.

Most important thing is to get a FSM (Factory Service Manual) so you can check wiring diagrams (assuming it's an electrical issue and not a bad starter as Waterloo suggests.)
dash lights work and headlights are working strong, I tried starting with out the jumpers on and got some kicking, when I do turn the key the locks open and close? That never happened before..
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2019 | 12:58 PM
  #7  
Waterloo Wonder's Avatar
Waterloo Wonder
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 142
Likes: 36
From: Southern New Hampshire
Default

You could try jacking up the car and tapping on the starter with a dead blow hammer. Sometimes the bendix gets hung up. This could possibly free it if that is the case. After the tapping (medium strength) try starting the car. If it starts, you may still need a starter to avoid being stranded if it happens again. The locking of the doors when you turn the key is odd but I would try the starter first.

Reply
Old Oct 27, 2019 | 02:01 PM
  #8  
Tunedport90's Avatar
Tunedport90
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 176
Default

You might want to check voltage from the passkey module to the ecm with the key on.
pin a19 at the ecm.

http://www.chevythunder.com/199394_l...ematic_pg3.htm


www.tunedperformance.org


Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 27, 2019 | 02:05 PM
  #9  
Robjack's Avatar
Robjack
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default

Yea I’ve tried that, seems weird that I turned the key once yesterday and it clicked like the battery was dead then jumped it and complete silence? I’m kind of back where I started, really frustrating, would to hate to have it towed to the dealer to find out it’s a simple fix..
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2019 | 02:32 PM
  #10  
Deepa's Avatar
Deepa
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 68
From: Providence RI
Default

Maybe ignition switch?

do you have 12v at the small wire at the starter while key is in start?

make sure you have 12v at the large wire at the starter too.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2019 | 09:00 PM
  #11  
pcolt94's Avatar
pcolt94
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Default

Originally Posted by Waterloo Wonder
You could try jacking up the car and tapping on the starter with a dead blow hammer. Sometimes the bendix gets hung up. This could possibly free it if that is the case. After the tapping (medium strength) try starting the car. If it starts, you may still need a starter to avoid being stranded if it happens again. The locking of the doors when you turn the key is odd but I would try the starter first.
I would also add that if you do jack it up, measure the voltage on the P terminal as someone turns the key. That will tell you everything. If voltage it there and if the battery is good and terminals clean, it's probably then the starter (solenoid) .
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2019 | 01:02 PM
  #12  
krackenvette's Avatar
krackenvette
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,062
Likes: 166
From: United States
Default

Tighten the battery cables, and tighten the grounds on the transmission bell housing, as well as cables to starter.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2019 | 01:28 PM
  #13  
Natty C's Avatar
Natty C
Melting Slicks
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3,150
Likes: 1,366
From: Mid-Atlantic
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
Default

This happened to me about a month ago. My battery kept completely dying. By chance I went out one night and the interior lights were on. Turns out that they'd go out when I walked away and then they'd come back on a few minutes later. I must not have been noticing what was going on. So then I started paying attention and it kept happening every time I got out of the car and walked away. Only way I could get the interior lights to turn off and stay off was to use the key in the (passenger) door lock to lock and unlock it. That would keep them off. Then after I replaced the battery I noticed a clicking sound behind the dash right around the glove box. Then the lights would come on again. It just kept clicking even without the key in the ignition. I never did tear the dash apart to get to it, I just keep the passenger door locked with the key itself and haven't had the clicking or the lights coming back on unless I use the door lock interior switch. It'll be a spring job, I'm not messing with it this time of year.

That was my experience with a constantly dying battery anyway.



Reply
Old Dec 10, 2019 | 01:28 PM
  #14  
ajflier2006's Avatar
ajflier2006
1st Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks Natty C. Mine is doing the same thing. It eats batteries alive. I just changed the battery again and it has stopped, but it has done this before, and started back again sometime later. I will start locking the passenger door with the key. If you ever find out what causes this let me know and I will do the same.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Corvette won’t atart





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:44 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE