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Hello,
Wondering if anyone has any input on this problem of mine. My Vette was in an accident with a truck a few days ago. Luckily only the passenger door was damaged and not the frame, engine or tranny. However the engine had stalled from the impact and it did not turn over when attempting to restart and crank it when they towed it. When I got it towed back home, I tried to start it again after a thorough clean up of glass, and no luck. What I did notice was a single LOUD click in the car's engine bay. Then I tried starting it and it cranked but didn't run. It did however click only every few tries in ON position (not start). I don't think it's the starter, but not too sure. I charged the battery to see if it was just low, but it had the same result. The passenger door was hit hard, unable to be opened and the wire plug connectors were broken. I know that the fuse box is on that side, so I'm wondering if any fuses have blown, or if it's a relay issue or both. One final note is that before the accident the fuel gauge did not function and had shown a full tank at all times and still does. Hoping to find the source of the problem so I can get her back on the road again soon.
Thanks.
P.S Somehow the Vette and I survived the crash, and the (Large) truck was totalled. I'm very lucky to be alive.
welcome to the forum....lots of good advice here....(not always mine..) but I've been helped a lot.......you're going to have to start at the basics......check to see if you have fuel pressure....slader valve on passenger bank.....see if fuel pump turns on for 2 sec with key on=if it does, probably didn't damage the fuel system.......the "click" is probably the relay on the firewall.....are you getting any codes?....the theft system is tied to the passenger door lock-should be a code...,....fuse for this in my 85 is behind the radio....a pain to get to......just some places for you to start...good luck.....
How and "where" did they hit your Corvette on the door? Is it in the front part of the passengers door or rear part of the passengers side door. The reason being the fuel Supply and Return both run along the Passengers side frame rail and they could be vulnerable to a hard hit. Then you have the fuse panel there. If "it" shorted during the impact it could potentially still be dangerous to reconnect to a fully charged battery. I would have a good fire extinguisher handy.
As far as your electrical system I would start at the battery and look for any problems along the wiring system. On my 1988 the Source of power for the fusible links comes right from the battery Red Terminal at the battery connection. There are two wires on my C4 coming from Bat + going to "Post". On the 1988 it was right under the panel behind the battery. It is bolted to the frame and is Isolated so the Bat+ meets Seven Fusible Links that Power virtually everything.
Starter Motor proximity to Right Door damage would make me look real hard at the parts and voltages. Has the engine been running at all since the accident? How was it and how long? You might want to get your battery fully charged or test it or replace it. I would go through all the wires and verify they are where they need to be and tight.
Lets us know as much as you have about this issue with your Corvette and somebody here might have it solved in a hurry. This Forum is amazing as there is so much experience here all for the asking.
Hello, I tried some things above to help narrow down the issue.
On my 1987, I had someone help turn the key while I listen to the fuel pump. The fuel pump did run for 2 seconds (alongside the relay click) then shutoff as it should. The SES light did stay on when cranking and I happened to notice the security light stayed on the whole process. I did some tests with my 1985 and found the SECURITY light is off during cranking and only appears to come on for a split of a second right before the engine runs. Unless that aspect was changed from 1985-1987, is it possible the security system is tripping the relay off on the 1987?
Where the door got hit is towards the rear of the door and the lock is no longer powered or functional. Funny enough the door light is still powered. As someone said above the security system runs through the passenger door. For a better understanding of where exactly it was hit, here is a picture. There is a small ?motor? visible and some wires to the door.
check your codes....put a paperclip in A and B in your aldl .right under the drivers dash......count the flashes.....you'll get "12" three times...one, then two flashes......then you'll get any codes...ex...3 flashes, 4 flashes three times...that'll be 34....system will end with three 12's again.....due some searches on this site for further instructions.....if you have fuel pressure, most likely going to be your theft protection in the way.....
That was quite a hit on your Corvette! They did not write your Corvette off for all that damage?
It appears that your lock solenoid is visible on the outside of the door. There will be electrical issues potentially in that area so look hard for anything damaged.
If you want to verify that your fuel lines are good then get down on the ground and look along the frame rail under the door. You should see two metal lines running along the frame rail. Just be sure that they did not get crunched. Near the back the tubes will turn in and head over to near the differential.
What is your current fuel pressure?
Getting the codes is the next important step. Do you know anyone with an older OBD1 scanner or code reader? I have both but found the old scanner I bought from another member sure is handy. You can also download Tuner Pro and buy a cable to make it work from Moates. Being able to see which sensor is not working properly is the easiest way to fix problems on a Fuel Injected Corvette. A lot of mechanics know little about the older systems like the one used in our C4's so you need the Factory Service Manual set for your year Corvette.
Is the little resistor chip still in your ignition key?On a hit that hard it might have popped out.
Another test point that is very useful is when you remove the gas filler cover and expose the wiring for the fuel pump. You can measure to see if the fuel pump is getting juice. Check how many volts are getting to your Fuel pump when running. There are three wires connecting the fuel pump and float sensor in the tank. The large red one is Power for the pump, the Purple (?) one is the fuel level sending unit return signal and the last is the black one that supplies ground. My Fuel Pump relay was having issues and I needed to know if it was the pump or relay so I applied 12 volts to the fuel pump directly and it worked like a charm so that told me it was the relay. On my 1988 the FP relay is the same one used in other places so I keep a spare in the glove box to be safe.
Be very careful with battery power and gas tanks. Even If the tank is empty it is still very dangerous to have anything sparking. Have a good working Fire Extinguisher handy just in case.
I finally was able to get the door off the car after many hours so I could check fuses and am at a deadstop. I visited a Corvette parts and restoration place (with more than 350 parts cars C3s and C4s) and asked the owner if a replacement door and repair was possible. He just did a little laugh and told me he can't work on it because the door sill was damaged, and that C4s can get "totalled" from just a hit anywhere on the frame rails since the cost of repair is higher than their value. Even a dent. Is he right? I would like input on the damage to the structure before I proceed with any repair. If it can't be repaired then I'm going to have to get another one.
This was by far the best one I had before the accident.
87 cranks but doesn't start
) but I've been helped a lot.......you're going to have to start at the basics......check to see if you have fuel pressure....slader valve on passenger bank.....see if fuel pump turns on for 2 sec with key on=if it does, probably didn't damage the fuel system.......the "click" is probably the relay on the firewall.....are you getting any codes?....the theft system is tied to the passenger door lock-should be a code...,....fuse for this in my 85 is behind the radio....a pain to get to......just some places for you to start...good luck.....
