Hi,

I recently purchased an '89 Corvette. It came with MSD Ignition system, Paxton Supercharger, and water injection system, plus assorted other performance enhancements.

I have an intermitent problem in that the car just won't turn over. It doesn't matter if it's warm or cold, wet or dry, sitting for a few minutes or a few hours or overnight.

I thought it was an ignition problem, so we pulled out the MSD and went back to stock, but it still happens 1 out of every 4 times I go to start the car. Sometimes I'm able to "fix" it by disconnecting and reconnecting the wires by the front driver-side headlight (where the MSD used to be), but now I'm not sure of what to do since that's gone and the problem still occurs.

Any suggestions,
Thanks
Mike

 

Could be alot of things.
Im thinking starter solinoid.But do yo have the VATS security system?
Could be the chip in your key.
I dont know what years had those things so I might be :crazy:

 

VATS will prevent your starter from working. First try your spare ign key as its pellet contacts aren't as worn as your everyday key. Find the two wires from the ign tumbler (on my 87 they come out the steering column on the floor and go under the carpet). Unplug the two pin connector and put an ohmeter on the wires from the column and insert your key (best to do this test when the starter won't crank), you should measure the same resistance as the pellet in your ign key. If over 12k ohms, then you need a new ign tumbler which includes new contacts that "make" with the key pellet. You can
clip a fixed resistor the same value as your pellet onto the wires going to the passenger side (VATS module) and fool VATS. Only do this until you can get your ign tumbler replaced because 99% of thefts are done by bashing the column and jumping the ignition sw. Also, you may have a defective clutch safety switch. When it won't crank, jump this switch (gear selector sw if you have an automatic). You can jump 12v to the large purple wire on the clutch safety sw to prove the starter is ok. If the ign pellet contacts are ok and the clutch safety sw is ok, then the only thing remaining is the start enable relay or the ignition switch.

 

I thought I had a VATS problem with my 86 but it turned out to be a bad starter solenoid. I found my problem by tapping on the soleniod while someone else turned the key. I got the one more start I needed to get home , where I promptly replaced the starter (100,000 miles). :cheers:

 

is the security light staying on when it doesnt start

 

Here's where I stand today ... well, where I stood before the battery died ...

When I turn the key on, we hear the fuel pump turn on. When I try to start it, it tries to turn over, but just quite doesn't make it. We never smell fuel. Tried to check whether the plugs were getting a spark, and it didn't look like. The problem happens with both sets of keys: old set and one less than a month old. The problem has been getting progressively worse. It used to start 3/4 of the time. Then it was 1/4 of the time. Now we can't get it to start at all.

I'll check the security light when I get the battery recharged today. :cry

 

I don't know much about starters, but I just had to replace the starter on my 88, and it isn't a standard starter. It's a high torgue gear reduction starter, so I think the internal components are a bit different, I didn't see anything that even remotely looked like a solonoid...