Starter won't crank over?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: lombard il
Starter won't crank over?
1987 automatic
I get no response from the starter when the key is turned.All lights are bright and voltage while not running is 12.0.I have made sure the car is in park.I have noticed (in the past) a buzzer noise sometimes when the key is turned.I checked the key pellet(only key) with my volt meter and do get a reading of 11 on the ohms scale.When the key is turned I also hear a relay or possibly the solenoid engaging.All battery connections are secure and the battery is new.The lights stay bright when I try and start the car.Dash lights also stay bright when a start is attempted.I have not noticed any grunt starts either.Please point me in the right direction.I did go over some speed bumps and about 1 mile an hour,slight scrape was heard, parked the car for about 1 hr came back and no start. Kinda weird???Thanks for any suggestions.
Hydro
I get no response from the starter when the key is turned.All lights are bright and voltage while not running is 12.0.I have made sure the car is in park.I have noticed (in the past) a buzzer noise sometimes when the key is turned.I checked the key pellet(only key) with my volt meter and do get a reading of 11 on the ohms scale.When the key is turned I also hear a relay or possibly the solenoid engaging.All battery connections are secure and the battery is new.The lights stay bright when I try and start the car.Dash lights also stay bright when a start is attempted.I have not noticed any grunt starts either.Please point me in the right direction.I did go over some speed bumps and about 1 mile an hour,slight scrape was heard, parked the car for about 1 hr came back and no start. Kinda weird???Thanks for any suggestions.
Hydro
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
From: Schmuckville SA
Re: Starter won't crank over? (Hydro)
Time to follow wires and have a look underneath..
You might want to give that starter a little tap and
see if you get anything out of it. Maybe the starter
died coincidentally at the same time you went over
that bump.
You might want to give that starter a little tap and
see if you get anything out of it. Maybe the starter
died coincidentally at the same time you went over
that bump.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 2
From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Re: Starter won't crank over? (Hydro)
Check to see if the Security light (if you have one) goes out. When my VATS was giving me fits last year because of a dirty pellet, that was the indication of the problem. As soon as you move the key to the run position, the light should stop flashing. If not - try cleaning your key and cylinder. Also try to put the shifter into neutral and try to start.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: Starter won't crank over? (Steel Blue 91)
When you turn the key to start does the voltometer stay at 12.0v?
Possibilities since it won't crank at all....
1. VATS or something key tumbler related
2. Dead starter or bad connection at it
3. Neutral safety switch on tranny.
Have somebody listen for the solenoid on the starter to engage while you try to start it.
Possibilities since it won't crank at all....
1. VATS or something key tumbler related
2. Dead starter or bad connection at it
3. Neutral safety switch on tranny.
Have somebody listen for the solenoid on the starter to engage while you try to start it.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Greenfield IN
Re: Starter won't crank over? (Hydro)
I would check the neutral safety switch. Try holding the key in the start position then run the shifter through the gears while continuing to hold the key in the start position. Be sure to have your foot on the brake in case it trys to start. It is possible that the linkage got knocked out of adjustment when you hit the bump.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Starter won't crank over? (Hydro)
If you hear a relay click behind the center of the dash, then your VATS is working correctly as that is the start enable relay which VATS activates if it measures the correct pellet resistance. You can jump the gear selector switch to prove it is defective and you should be able to crank the engine. You can prove your starter is ok by jumping 12v to the gear selector switch (one wire goes to the starter solenoid , the other goes to the start enable relay, try both wires) which will make the starter crank.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Newnan Ga
Re: Starter won't crank over? (Hydro)
It sure does sound like your vats system. You can get a resistor from radio shak the same resiistance as your key and put in in the vats plug under the dash. The vats will reset every 3-5 minutes, if you don't try it inbetween failures.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: lombard il
Re: Starter won't crank over? (87NassauBlue)
Well here is what I have found:(not in order)
1.put 12v directly to starter,it's good
2.Changed lock cylinder and new key.(was old and flakey anyway)
3.Ran through the gears with brake on ,no start.
4.NO voltage from Purple wire at starter???
5.Security light does go out.
Does this narrow it down a little?
1.put 12v directly to starter,it's good
2.Changed lock cylinder and new key.(was old and flakey anyway)
3.Ran through the gears with brake on ,no start.
4.NO voltage from Purple wire at starter???
5.Security light does go out.
Does this narrow it down a little?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Starter won't crank over? (Hydro)
Ok, power gets to the starter solenoid on the starter through this path: battery through fusible link through the firewall connector through the start contacts in the ign sw through the start enable relay contacts through the clutch or gear selector (if auto) switch back through the firewall connector to the start solenoid bolt on the starter.
Pull the console up so you can see the gear selector switch and try jumping this switch and try a crank. Measure the volts on the jumped gear selector switch when you hit, "crank", position on the ign sw, this will tell you if the ign sw and start enable relay are closed. If no 12v, then you need to measure volts on both sides of the start enable relay when attempting a crank and then back to the ign sw to see if the ign sw start contacts are ok, then back to the fusible link to see if the link is ok.
Pull the console up so you can see the gear selector switch and try jumping this switch and try a crank. Measure the volts on the jumped gear selector switch when you hit, "crank", position on the ign sw, this will tell you if the ign sw and start enable relay are closed. If no 12v, then you need to measure volts on both sides of the start enable relay when attempting a crank and then back to the ign sw to see if the ign sw start contacts are ok, then back to the fusible link to see if the link is ok.
