2001 Z06 Starting Problem
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
2001 Z06 Starting Problem
Hopefully someone good at troubleshooting can help me out. My mechanical knowledge of my car is limited mostly to the owner's manual.
The Car: 2001 Z06 with 43200 miles
The Problem:
My car has a problem starting now and then. I'm not sure if it is an intermittment problem with the starter, maybe the clutch position sensor, or the pass key system. I'm not positive if it is the case or not but it seems the problem occurs mainly after the car is warm. I live in San Diego so it is usually warm. The battery is fine and no fuses are blown. Sometimes when I turn the key to start the car, nothing happens with the starter. The battery is on, the display is on, the guages do their test, the radio comes on and the windows work. The starter doesn't even try to turn. Nothing. The steering column does unlock and I can move the wheel. Usually after several minutes to half hour of sitting in the parking lot or the gas station, the car will all the sudden start on a subsequent try with no problems. Again, the battery and starter are both strong.
My amateur troubleshooting:
My first guess was that there is something wrong with the pass key. I only got one key with the car so I don't know if it is a bad key. The chip is clean and dry. For awhile I thought maybe the car did not recognize the key and was locking me out like the owner's manual says. So I would wait 3 minutes or so between start attempts. It turns out I can try time after time after time and then it will start normally with no hesitation so I don't think any timer is running to lock out the starter. I haven't tried to get a new key.
My next guess is maybe the starter has a bad connection. It looks fine on the starter side. Maybe there is something wrong in the column where the key turns. I haven't had the car taken apart yet to figure it out. The starter is not weak at all. It starts up ridiculously easy when it works. Again, it just isn't getting electrical contact sometimes.
Finally I think it could be whatever sensor is used to make sure the clutch is in all the way prior to starting. I don't know where this is or how it physically works but this is my latest guess. I imagine a switch or contact that is somehow sticking open or closed so I try to move the clutch in and out several times. Could be it but my life experience tells me it can't be this easy.
When I remove the key after trying to start it, the column locking mechanism works as usual. I did notice one time that a message came on telling me to remove the key and wait ten seconds. I believe this is related to the column lock but the column is unlocking so I don't know why the message came up.
Additional thoughts:
There IS definately something electrically wrong in the column. Now and then my turn signals stop working. This is an intermittment problem like the starting problem but they don't appear necessarily to coincide all the time. For whatever reason, if I turn on my emergency flashers, then off, the turn signals start working again. It is annoying but is always fixed with the emergency flashers. I think this could be related.
Final thoughts:
Bob Stall Chevy in La Mesa, CA has one of the worst service departments ever. I have taken my car in for several little annoying problems and they refuse to troubleshoot. They charge money and send you out the door saying "could not duplicate the problem." Does anyone in San Diego want my business? They sold me the car, then refuse to help me out.
Also, GM really has some poor electrical systems. I have only owned GM vehicles and without exception they suck. I owned a Jeep Cherokee, a Saturn SC2, and now the vette. What is the deal? I have had nothing but problems with GM. It really makes my want to try someone else.
If anyone has any comments or thoughts I would appreciate them. I'm going away for a few days for Thanksgiving but will check back. Thanks. Gary.
The Car: 2001 Z06 with 43200 miles
The Problem:
My car has a problem starting now and then. I'm not sure if it is an intermittment problem with the starter, maybe the clutch position sensor, or the pass key system. I'm not positive if it is the case or not but it seems the problem occurs mainly after the car is warm. I live in San Diego so it is usually warm. The battery is fine and no fuses are blown. Sometimes when I turn the key to start the car, nothing happens with the starter. The battery is on, the display is on, the guages do their test, the radio comes on and the windows work. The starter doesn't even try to turn. Nothing. The steering column does unlock and I can move the wheel. Usually after several minutes to half hour of sitting in the parking lot or the gas station, the car will all the sudden start on a subsequent try with no problems. Again, the battery and starter are both strong.
My amateur troubleshooting:
My first guess was that there is something wrong with the pass key. I only got one key with the car so I don't know if it is a bad key. The chip is clean and dry. For awhile I thought maybe the car did not recognize the key and was locking me out like the owner's manual says. So I would wait 3 minutes or so between start attempts. It turns out I can try time after time after time and then it will start normally with no hesitation so I don't think any timer is running to lock out the starter. I haven't tried to get a new key.
My next guess is maybe the starter has a bad connection. It looks fine on the starter side. Maybe there is something wrong in the column where the key turns. I haven't had the car taken apart yet to figure it out. The starter is not weak at all. It starts up ridiculously easy when it works. Again, it just isn't getting electrical contact sometimes.
Finally I think it could be whatever sensor is used to make sure the clutch is in all the way prior to starting. I don't know where this is or how it physically works but this is my latest guess. I imagine a switch or contact that is somehow sticking open or closed so I try to move the clutch in and out several times. Could be it but my life experience tells me it can't be this easy.
When I remove the key after trying to start it, the column locking mechanism works as usual. I did notice one time that a message came on telling me to remove the key and wait ten seconds. I believe this is related to the column lock but the column is unlocking so I don't know why the message came up.
Additional thoughts:
There IS definately something electrically wrong in the column. Now and then my turn signals stop working. This is an intermittment problem like the starting problem but they don't appear necessarily to coincide all the time. For whatever reason, if I turn on my emergency flashers, then off, the turn signals start working again. It is annoying but is always fixed with the emergency flashers. I think this could be related.
Final thoughts:
Bob Stall Chevy in La Mesa, CA has one of the worst service departments ever. I have taken my car in for several little annoying problems and they refuse to troubleshoot. They charge money and send you out the door saying "could not duplicate the problem." Does anyone in San Diego want my business? They sold me the car, then refuse to help me out.
Also, GM really has some poor electrical systems. I have only owned GM vehicles and without exception they suck. I owned a Jeep Cherokee, a Saturn SC2, and now the vette. What is the deal? I have had nothing but problems with GM. It really makes my want to try someone else.
If anyone has any comments or thoughts I would appreciate them. I'm going away for a few days for Thanksgiving but will check back. Thanks. Gary.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,592
Likes: 393
St. Jude Donor 05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Odd I should read this today. This morning when I stopped for a coffee and came back out my 2000 6 speed did the very same thing. 1st time ever. My guess would be the clutch switch, which is under the dash on the clutch mechanism.. Worked fine the rest of today.. I will let it idle tommorow at coffee stop and look at it over on Thanksgiving.. 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
First of all, I find it absolutely amazing that your column lock actuator has not failed yet. Your C5 is probably overdue (my actuator lasted about 1500 actuations before dying a comple and horrible death.). Do youself a favor and get a column lock bypass when the no-start issue is resolved.
Regarding the turn signal: We once had a Honda that did the same thing; it turned out that not using the emergency flashers allowed the electrical pathway to the turn signals to get corroded. If, by chance our C5's electrical system is set up the same way, turning the flashers on and off may clean the contacts sufficiently - worth a try.
As far as the electrical issues: You say you have a good battery - have you checked its terminal connectors? Take them off and clean them with a wire brush. Now if you have no luck and want to try another dealership, I recommend Courtesy Chev. in Mission Valley. They've always done me right so far....
Good luck!
Regarding the turn signal: We once had a Honda that did the same thing; it turned out that not using the emergency flashers allowed the electrical pathway to the turn signals to get corroded. If, by chance our C5's electrical system is set up the same way, turning the flashers on and off may clean the contacts sufficiently - worth a try.
As far as the electrical issues: You say you have a good battery - have you checked its terminal connectors? Take them off and clean them with a wire brush. Now if you have no luck and want to try another dealership, I recommend Courtesy Chev. in Mission Valley. They've always done me right so far....
Good luck!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
Thanks for the responses guys. Since posting I have done a little more reading on this forum and it is great. It turns out the turn signal problem is not uncommon and other people have recommended turning the hazards on and off several times. Also thanks for the recommendation for service. I've thought about trying Courtesy Chevy but never actually stopped by. Also, a lot of other people recommend the column lock bypass as well.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I agree about the column lock! I thought I was ammune and it got me while I was at Carlisle PA. 
I have a couple of things that could cause this issue:
As for the NO START, the clutch safety switch is a prime suspect! It is a known issue and a high failure rate item. The contacts inside corrode.
The next time it happens, while you have the ignition in the "START" position, pump the clutch up and down about an inch off the stop a couple of times. If the switch is bad, it will start. If it is the switch, I highly recommend changing it before it strands you.
If it isnt the clutch safety switch, it is most likely the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR). It is in series the same circuit as the safety switch. It is located in the passengers foot well behind the toe board. Look directly above the big silver box. You will see two relays. The one with four wires (red, purple, yellow/black stripe and yellow) is the relay.
I bet it the safety switch!!
Bill
I have a couple of things that could cause this issue:
As for the NO START, the clutch safety switch is a prime suspect! It is a known issue and a high failure rate item. The contacts inside corrode.
The next time it happens, while you have the ignition in the "START" position, pump the clutch up and down about an inch off the stop a couple of times. If the switch is bad, it will start. If it is the switch, I highly recommend changing it before it strands you.
If it isnt the clutch safety switch, it is most likely the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR). It is in series the same circuit as the safety switch. It is located in the passengers foot well behind the toe board. Look directly above the big silver box. You will see two relays. The one with four wires (red, purple, yellow/black stripe and yellow) is the relay.
I bet it the safety switch!!
Bill
