No Start-What Am I Missing???
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 19
From: Tavernier Fl
No Start-What Am I Missing???
Ok, my 1998 Coupe has had a no start issue for a long time now,
Sometimes it starts perfectly, sometimes it will act like the battery is dead and not turn over at all.
Here is what I have done:
Tested battery
Tested Alternator
Replaced battery (issue got better, then went back to bad)
Replaced battery terminal on positive side
Replaced both battery cable assemblys (old ones corroded/scorched looking this helped some, but not fixed issue)
If you get in the car and it will not start a boost will fire it up fine.
The battery is not down when the car won't start and sometimes if you let it sit a minute it will fire right up.
I suppose the next thing to replce is the starter but surely if the starter was bad it would be bad all the time, not some of the time
Is there something I am overlooking, a bypass relay or something else that could be causing this issue? It has totally taken the fun out of this car, I am honestly ready to get it fixed and sell it, I have put less than 1k miles on it this year beacuse of it.
Thanks in advance!
~B~
Sometimes it starts perfectly, sometimes it will act like the battery is dead and not turn over at all.
Here is what I have done:
Tested battery
Tested Alternator
Replaced battery (issue got better, then went back to bad)
Replaced battery terminal on positive side
Replaced both battery cable assemblys (old ones corroded/scorched looking this helped some, but not fixed issue)
If you get in the car and it will not start a boost will fire it up fine.
The battery is not down when the car won't start and sometimes if you let it sit a minute it will fire right up.
I suppose the next thing to replce is the starter but surely if the starter was bad it would be bad all the time, not some of the time
Is there something I am overlooking, a bypass relay or something else that could be causing this issue? It has totally taken the fun out of this car, I am honestly ready to get it fixed and sell it, I have put less than 1k miles on it this year beacuse of it.
Thanks in advance!
~B~
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Ok, my 1998 Coupe has had a no start issue for a long time now,
Sometimes it starts perfectly, sometimes it will act like the battery is dead and not turn over at all.
Here is what I have done:
Tested battery
Tested Alternator
Replaced battery (issue got better, then went back to bad)
Replaced battery terminal on positive side
Replaced both battery cable assemblys (old ones corroded/scorched looking this helped some, but not fixed issue)
If you get in the car and it will not start a boost will fire it up fine.
The battery is not down when the car won't start and sometimes if you let it sit a minute it will fire right up.
I suppose the next thing to replce is the starter but surely if the starter was bad it would be bad all the time, not some of the time
Is there something I am overlooking, a bypass relay or something else that could be causing this issue? It has totally taken the fun out of this car, I am honestly ready to get it fixed and sell it, I have put less than 1k miles on it this year beacuse of it.
Thanks in advance!
~B~
Sometimes it starts perfectly, sometimes it will act like the battery is dead and not turn over at all.
Here is what I have done:
Tested battery
Tested Alternator
Replaced battery (issue got better, then went back to bad)
Replaced battery terminal on positive side
Replaced both battery cable assemblys (old ones corroded/scorched looking this helped some, but not fixed issue)
If you get in the car and it will not start a boost will fire it up fine.
The battery is not down when the car won't start and sometimes if you let it sit a minute it will fire right up.
I suppose the next thing to replce is the starter but surely if the starter was bad it would be bad all the time, not some of the time
Is there something I am overlooking, a bypass relay or something else that could be causing this issue? It has totally taken the fun out of this car, I am honestly ready to get it fixed and sell it, I have put less than 1k miles on it this year beacuse of it.
Thanks in advance!
~B~
Could be bad ignition switch or ground. Also starter may be going requiring more current to start.
What size battery (CCA) Cranking Amps. Electrical problems suck because they could be one thing or multiple items.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 149
Likes: 2
From: South Shore MA
could be the starter enable relay or theft deterrent relay (i think theyre the same thing.) its in the passenger side footwell above the fuses in a rather tight spot. should have a heavy purple wire along with some others. if you put power right to the purple one it should crank whether the car is off or in gear so be careful. have someone listen for it clicking while you try starting. also if its an auto try starting in neutral. if you have an autostarter or aftermarket alarm they have been known to fail too. good luck
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 54,756
Likes: 0
From: Always living in a state of Confusion.
Gone, but not Forgotten
Cruise-In 5, 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
This may sound....dumb, but if it's a 6-speed make sure you have the clutch fully engaged.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 19
From: Tavernier Fl
The car is a 6 speed with no aftermarket alarm or autostart
I feel like if it were a ignition switch or relay the starter would never engage but I am not a mechanic.
When we changed the battery cables tonight there were noticable heat marks on the starter but when it works it works like a new car
~B~
Last edited by belmor; Dec 3, 2008 at 10:49 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
Likes: 770
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Okay....I see that this narrows down the troubleshooting since it only barely turns over the engine.
Offhand, it sounds like a battery "load" problem but you squelch that with your battery changes etc.
Plus you've addressed the relay(s).
This could go any number of directions...such as....and this is extreme...is your engine moisture locked due to a cracked head(s) whereby it compresses H2O and stops....hence...remove the plugs and see if the starter cranks the engine easily......
that is the extreme, but it seems you need to figure out if it is electrical or because the engine doesn't want to turn over. So far, with what you've said about "boosts", it seems electrical (i.e. solenoid, relays, starter windings, etc.) Have someone test the draw from the starter. It might be toast.
I like to talk out me ****, but just throwing out ideas.
good luck...and let us know what the final prognosis is.
Offhand, it sounds like a battery "load" problem but you squelch that with your battery changes etc.
Plus you've addressed the relay(s).
This could go any number of directions...such as....and this is extreme...is your engine moisture locked due to a cracked head(s) whereby it compresses H2O and stops....hence...remove the plugs and see if the starter cranks the engine easily......
that is the extreme, but it seems you need to figure out if it is electrical or because the engine doesn't want to turn over. So far, with what you've said about "boosts", it seems electrical (i.e. solenoid, relays, starter windings, etc.) Have someone test the draw from the starter. It might be toast.
I like to talk out me ****, but just throwing out ideas.
good luck...and let us know what the final prognosis is.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
From: CA
Don't forget the caution floating around here a while back. Some new batteries have terminal bolt holes that are not machined deep enough. The cable bolt bottoms out before the cable makes a good firm contact. I had all the symtems of a bad battrey before I installed a thin washer over the cable bolts. The cable is now solid and I have no more battery problems.