Starting Issues.... need help
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
Starting Issues.... need help
Went to start the car the other day, and it gave a "Low Voltage" readout on the DIC, but went ahead and started a little slowly. Leaving work, it took about 4 tries to get it started, but it went ahead and kicked off, so I went home. It again read "Low Voltage" on the DIC.
Changed the battery to a new one, it kicks right off, so I back it out of my shop and park it, thinking all is well. The next morning I get up, and it won't start at all. The gauges flicker off and on, and "Low Voltage" is on the DIC, reading about 5 volts.
Push the car back into the shop and proceed to change the starter, thinking solenoid is bad. Get the new starter in, and it kicks right off, same as before. I put the exhaust system back on, and get ready to go for a test drive, when it happens again. The gauges flicker and I get "Low Voltage" on the DIC. I tried to pull the codes, but all it will do is default to "Reduced Engine Power", and read "Low Voltage", again around 5 volts.
Where do I go from here? All of the wires look great and tight, and I can't find any loose connections anywhere.
Changed the battery to a new one, it kicks right off, so I back it out of my shop and park it, thinking all is well. The next morning I get up, and it won't start at all. The gauges flicker off and on, and "Low Voltage" is on the DIC, reading about 5 volts.
Push the car back into the shop and proceed to change the starter, thinking solenoid is bad. Get the new starter in, and it kicks right off, same as before. I put the exhaust system back on, and get ready to go for a test drive, when it happens again. The gauges flicker and I get "Low Voltage" on the DIC. I tried to pull the codes, but all it will do is default to "Reduced Engine Power", and read "Low Voltage", again around 5 volts.
Where do I go from here? All of the wires look great and tight, and I can't find any loose connections anywhere.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 399
Likes: 11
From: Southern NH
Take a close look at the positive battery terminal and then move to the grounds.
Did you have to charge the battery between the time it wouldn't start and when you put in a new starter? Was it dead due to a parasitic drain or did the car just fire up with a new starter on the same ol' battery charge?
Did you have to charge the battery between the time it wouldn't start and when you put in a new starter? Was it dead due to a parasitic drain or did the car just fire up with a new starter on the same ol' battery charge?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 399
Likes: 11
From: Southern NH
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
Take a close look at the positive battery terminal and then move to the grounds.
Did you have to charge the battery between the time it wouldn't start and when you put in a new starter? Was it dead due to a parasitic drain or did the car just fire up with a new starter on the same ol' battery charge?
Did you have to charge the battery between the time it wouldn't start and when you put in a new starter? Was it dead due to a parasitic drain or did the car just fire up with a new starter on the same ol' battery charge?
Terminals, grounds, and wires all look good.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 399
Likes: 11
From: Southern NH
Well the main feed link between the battery and the starter isn't that complicated so you have atleast one connection that is NOT OK. Since your DIC is reporting voltage issues as well I would lean towards the main ground cable snce this is the only connection shared between the two. Something there isn't making a solid connection.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
I think I may have found the issue. After searching through years of threads, it looks like it may be the ignition switch.
I am going to start there tomorrow, unless something else comes to mind first.
I am going to start there tomorrow, unless something else comes to mind first.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
I think I may have found the issue. After searching through years of threads, it looks like it may be the ignition switch.
I am going to start there tomorrow, unless something else comes to mind first.
I am going to start there tomorrow, unless something else comes to mind first.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
I would clean the big ground for the battery first, then make sure the two grounds to the engine block are clean both ends and everything tight and finally make sure the battery side terminals are clean and torqued to 11 foot pounds.
In my case, I had two ignition switches go bad over a two year period and in each case one of the symptoms was a no start or start but with various faults including low voltage and a host of others. When that happened, turning the key off and attempting a restart usually resulted in a good start.
That said, I experienced all kinds of similar symptoms on one occasion that turned out to be a battery side terminal which I had tightened but not to 11 foot pounds.
Four tries and then finally a start could also be the ignition switch.
In my case, I had two ignition switches go bad over a two year period and in each case one of the symptoms was a no start or start but with various faults including low voltage and a host of others. When that happened, turning the key off and attempting a restart usually resulted in a good start.
That said, I experienced all kinds of similar symptoms on one occasion that turned out to be a battery side terminal which I had tightened but not to 11 foot pounds.
Four tries and then finally a start could also be the ignition switch.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
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From: San Diego CA
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
For those following this, you probably are aware of the GM recalls on newer vehicles for ignition switch problems. So far as I am aware, the C5 is not yet covered.
As I noted earlier, I have replaced two ignition switches in my C5 and also one ignition switch in my 2000 Buick Century.
The symptom on the Buick was no HVAC blower.
The symptoms on the two C5 ignition switch replacements included:
-crank no start
-start, but with multiple DIC warnings including:
low voltage
service traction control
reduced engine power
service engine soon
flashing DIC lights and warning symbols on instrument cluster
engine dies at stop sign, OK restart
crank no start, but crank, OK start on second or third try
crank, start but run on two or three cylinders. Crank OK start second try
As I noted earlier, I have replaced two ignition switches in my C5 and also one ignition switch in my 2000 Buick Century.
The symptom on the Buick was no HVAC blower.
The symptoms on the two C5 ignition switch replacements included:
-crank no start
-start, but with multiple DIC warnings including:
low voltage
service traction control
reduced engine power
service engine soon
flashing DIC lights and warning symbols on instrument cluster
engine dies at stop sign, OK restart
crank no start, but crank, OK start on second or third try
crank, start but run on two or three cylinders. Crank OK start second try
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
Turns out it was in fact the starter switch. Took it out this morning, it looked exactly like the ones on another post. Sanded, polished, and greased the contacts, now everything is back to normal!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Whitesboro Texas
The symptoms on the two C5 ignition switch replacements included:
-crank no start
-start, but with multiple DIC warnings including:
low voltage
service traction control
reduced engine power
service engine soon
flashing DIC lights and warning symbols on instrument cluster
engine dies at stop sign, OK restart
crank no start, but crank, OK start on second or third try
crank, start but run on two or three cylinders. Crank OK start second try
-crank no start
-start, but with multiple DIC warnings including:
low voltage
service traction control
reduced engine power
service engine soon
flashing DIC lights and warning symbols on instrument cluster
engine dies at stop sign, OK restart
crank no start, but crank, OK start on second or third try
crank, start but run on two or three cylinders. Crank OK start second try
Mine did about all of these, except die at a stop and run on a couple of cylinders.