Starter motor?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Starter motor?
Hi
I went out to jump in and drive away the other day and when I turned the key everything seemed fine until I went to crank it - then heard what sounded like a ball peen hammer hitting an anvil (not loud) and the car went dead. Tried it again - car is dead like a totally dead battery.
Charged the battery - again same thing.
Car was running fine the previous day.
Is this just the starter motor shorting the battery out? Or the solenoid or something?
Thank you! Love the C5!
Jim
I went out to jump in and drive away the other day and when I turned the key everything seemed fine until I went to crank it - then heard what sounded like a ball peen hammer hitting an anvil (not loud) and the car went dead. Tried it again - car is dead like a totally dead battery.
Charged the battery - again same thing.
Car was running fine the previous day.
Is this just the starter motor shorting the battery out? Or the solenoid or something?
Thank you! Love the C5!
Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
When my starter went out the car was completely dead when you tried to crank it. Your situation doesn't sound like a starter, rather a battery with insufficient cranking power.
Edit, here is how mine acted before I replaced the starter. Never had an issue again after it was replaced.
Edit, here is how mine acted before I replaced the starter. Never had an issue again after it was replaced.
Last edited by Black 02; Feb 23, 2017 at 01:50 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 25
From: Texas
just replaced my starter today... it was doing the same as black 02, not all the time, but after driving (sometimes..) i went ahead and replaced the starter before it started acting up more.
the new starter sounds better and seems to spin the engine over easier..
the new starter sounds better and seems to spin the engine over easier..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
Not to derail the OP's original thread but I wanted to inject a related question...I really appreciate Black02' video. About a week ago, I got some gas and when I attempted to start the car, there was not a sound. Although they say insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome, but in my case, at the gas station, I sat there and continued to try starting the car. After 5 minutes or so, the car started right up... so I believe I do have a starter problem. My question is if anyone knows... can a starter stop working intermittently before it goes out for good?
Last edited by Z06ster; Feb 25, 2017 at 10:55 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies.
This is not a daily driver (especially in winter when it leaks like a sieve), and the date on the battery was 11/11, so I bought a brand new gel Die Hard ($200!).
I was sure this would nail it but - bam! Same exact thing. It took the brand new battery down to 0 volts. I guess that ices it - the armature must be stuck, shorting out the circuit.
Is the starter easy enough to R&R on the driveway? I don't normally wrench on this car but otherwise I would have to have it towed.
What is a good replacement choice for a '99 FRC?
Thanks again for the comments. I appreciate it
Jim
This is not a daily driver (especially in winter when it leaks like a sieve), and the date on the battery was 11/11, so I bought a brand new gel Die Hard ($200!).
I was sure this would nail it but - bam! Same exact thing. It took the brand new battery down to 0 volts. I guess that ices it - the armature must be stuck, shorting out the circuit.
Is the starter easy enough to R&R on the driveway? I don't normally wrench on this car but otherwise I would have to have it towed.
What is a good replacement choice for a '99 FRC?
Thanks again for the comments. I appreciate it
Jim
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 484
Likes: 47
From: Bridgewater NJ
I've had the same problem in the past intermittently. Found out one of my battery terminal bolts (side post) were corroded even though it looked not bad. Replaced them for a few bucks (any auto store has them) and it starts right up now without issue.
Start checking the easiest stuff first.
Start checking the easiest stuff first.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I've had the same problem in the past intermittently. Found out one of my battery terminal bolts (side post) were corroded even though it looked not bad. Replaced them for a few bucks (any auto store has them) and it starts right up now without issue.
Start checking the easiest stuff first.
Start checking the easiest stuff first.
I had no idea about the potential discontinuity at that side terminal connection. Turns out, just as you indicated, I had a corroded positive terminal bolt (corrosion inside the boot out of view) and it was an intermittent contact! $5 fixed it.
Love my old C5 FRC. Love the forum! You guys are the best.
Thanks again beboggled!!
Jim
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 151
I just went through this last week.
Replaced battery, then took the starter out and had it bench tested.
The starter failed, so I bought a new one.
After all that work removing it, and installing it, still nothing when I turned the key.
The ignition switch was the culprit.
Replaced it, and car starts up every time..
Check the ignition switch.
How I found out it was the switch was easy.
When I tried to start it, and nothing, I turned the key on and off three or four times, and the engine started.
Shut it off, and nothing.
Once again, turned the key on and off a couple of times, and it started right up.
Bob.
Replaced battery, then took the starter out and had it bench tested.
The starter failed, so I bought a new one.
After all that work removing it, and installing it, still nothing when I turned the key.
The ignition switch was the culprit.
Replaced it, and car starts up every time..
Check the ignition switch.
How I found out it was the switch was easy.
When I tried to start it, and nothing, I turned the key on and off three or four times, and the engine started.
Shut it off, and nothing.
Once again, turned the key on and off a couple of times, and it started right up.
Bob.
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 352
From: Carson City Nevada
Not to derail the OP's original thread but I wanted to inject a related question...I really appreciate Black02' video. About a week ago, I got some gas and when I attempted to start the car, there was not a sound. Although they say insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome, but in my case, at the gas station, I sat there and continued to try starting the car. After 5 minutes or so, the car started right up... so I believe I do have a starter problem. My question is if anyone knows... can a starter stop working intermittently before it goes out for good?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,769
Likes: 483
From: Douglas County WI
I just went through this last week.
Replaced battery, then took the starter out and had it bench tested.
The starter failed, so I bought a new one.
After all that work removing it, and installing it, still nothing when I turned the key.
The ignition switch was the culprit.
Replaced it, and car starts up every time..
Check the ignition switch.
How I found out it was the switch was easy.
When I tried to start it, and nothing, I turned the key on and off three or four times, and the engine started.
Shut it off, and nothing.
Once again, turned the key on and off a couple of times, and it started right up.
Bob.
Replaced battery, then took the starter out and had it bench tested.
The starter failed, so I bought a new one.
After all that work removing it, and installing it, still nothing when I turned the key.
The ignition switch was the culprit.
Replaced it, and car starts up every time..
Check the ignition switch.
How I found out it was the switch was easy.
When I tried to start it, and nothing, I turned the key on and off three or four times, and the engine started.
Shut it off, and nothing.
Once again, turned the key on and off a couple of times, and it started right up.
Bob.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
When you hear the pinging of the starter it means one of two items, usually a battery with less than 12.5V can cause the problem of insufficient voltage and the slow tuning of the starter. However it is usually less than 10.5V for this to happen. The more common problem is the solenoid in the starter is worn and needs replacing. While you can remove the exhaust and access the starter as stated above, I would replace the starter with the newer (Truck) starter using two long bolts rather than on long and one short. Two many C5 owners have ended with the dreaded cracked starter boss where the shorter bolt threads in.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
Not to derail the OP's original thread but I wanted to inject a related question...I really appreciate Black02' video. About a week ago, I got some gas and when I attempted to start the car, there was not a sound. Although they say insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome, but in my case, at the gas station, I sat there and continued to try starting the car. After 5 minutes or so, the car started right up... so I believe I do have a starter problem. My question is if anyone knows... can a starter stop working intermittently before it goes out for good?
