Darn...01 Vette Won't Start.....Help Please!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 32
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Darn...01 Vette Won't Start.....Help Please!
Hi All....
So my DIC was blinking very erratically non-stop...and my needle gauges were going crazy also. I replaced the battery with a new Optima and all was normal. I was even able to start it , no problem. A week later the DIC is blinking , but not as bad....and the gauge needles are still jumping also, but not as bad. Now, I can crank the engine with no problem because of new battery , but it just won't start. Also, sometimes I will hear a "clicking" almost like it's the starter....but it's a deeper clicking ....almost like "thud...thud....thud" noise. I Just wanna start it to drive it to my mechanic.
I would really appreciate any help or ideas.
Thank-you
So my DIC was blinking very erratically non-stop...and my needle gauges were going crazy also. I replaced the battery with a new Optima and all was normal. I was even able to start it , no problem. A week later the DIC is blinking , but not as bad....and the gauge needles are still jumping also, but not as bad. Now, I can crank the engine with no problem because of new battery , but it just won't start. Also, sometimes I will hear a "clicking" almost like it's the starter....but it's a deeper clicking ....almost like "thud...thud....thud" noise. I Just wanna start it to drive it to my mechanic.
I would really appreciate any help or ideas.
Thank-you
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
Just because it's a new battery doesn't necessarily rule low voltage out. Have you driven it often between the new battery and now? If not, check voltage across the two battery terminals. (Honestly do that even if you have driven it.)
if there's some sort of parasitic draw that's pulling the battery down, it can cause the same issues as a bad battery.
Good luck and post back with updates.
if there's some sort of parasitic draw that's pulling the battery down, it can cause the same issues as a bad battery.
Good luck and post back with updates.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 798
From: Windsor CA
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
You have the exact same issues I had, you need to clean the contacts on your ignition switch or replace it. Go here it only took me about 2.5 hours to fix / clean my switch that is including the R&R or have a shop put in a new switch about $70 through Rock Auto.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ch-repair.html my story is on the last page post #375
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ch-repair.html my story is on the last page post #375
Last edited by Keith Richards; Aug 12, 2017 at 11:58 AM.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,442
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
You have the exact same issues I had, you need to clean the contacts on your ignition switch or replace it. Go here it only took me about 2.5 hours to fix / clean my switch that is including the R&R or have a shop put in a new switch about $70 through Rock Auto.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ch-repair.html my story is on the last page post #375
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ch-repair.html my story is on the last page post #375
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2015
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DBGoodwin- I have the battery on a trickle charger and it's at 14.3 V. So I think it's good.
Keith Richards- you may be right... I've been having slight problems starting the car in the past. I remember before I had to make new keys to finally get her started, so I think it's ignition switch related.
Someone also mentioned about a loose wire connection in the steering column...related to the telescopic movement of the column?
Thanks guys.... appreciate your help and suggestions
Keith Richards- you may be right... I've been having slight problems starting the car in the past. I remember before I had to make new keys to finally get her started, so I think it's ignition switch related.
Someone also mentioned about a loose wire connection in the steering column...related to the telescopic movement of the column?
Thanks guys.... appreciate your help and suggestions
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 798
From: Windsor CA
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It's not your key, it is your ignition switch my car did Exactly what you described a hard chunk chunk chunk at first so thought it was a starter so ordered up a new Bosch from Rock Auto and put that in and charged the battery (I have a one year old Optima) when battery was fully charged it would fire off fine then sit for a day and chunk chunk chunk again or gauges go crazy and parking lights flash or turn over strong but no fire at all or lastly it would act like the battery was completely dead and then the second or third try of turning the key after any of those symptoms the car would fire off perfect. So I started thinking it must be something as simple as the switch and all that current even though it is there it just isn't flowing through that switch and I found Bill Curlee's post I linked above and figured that was it, I was going to order up a new switch but thought what do I have to lose so I pulled it out and found four badly burnt contacts and cleaned them up with a piece of sandpaper glued to a pencil eraser and knew when all back together it was all fixed as hard as it was turning over with all 12.5 + volts flowing through there. Good Luck!
Last edited by Keith Richards; Aug 12, 2017 at 09:03 PM.
