Intermittent Starter Problem?
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Intermittent Starter Problem?
Please help...
2005 C5 Manual
Enter car, insert key, depress clutch pedal, turn key - "CLICK" from starter, no crank. Repeat, no crank. Repeat, car starts right up!?
Sometimes it doesn't happen at all, sometimes it may happen once, and sometimes it may take four attempts. Any suggestions?
2005 C5 Manual
Enter car, insert key, depress clutch pedal, turn key - "CLICK" from starter, no crank. Repeat, no crank. Repeat, car starts right up!?
Sometimes it doesn't happen at all, sometimes it may happen once, and sometimes it may take four attempts. Any suggestions?
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
intermittent starter
Batt is new and fully charged. Pretty sure the sound is the starter (solenoid). I've heard this before on other vehicles I've owned over the last 35 years but I just have trouble believeing that a starter can go bad after only 30K miles; although the car is 6 years old!
Been through the stupid Steering Column Lock issue and have had the car towed three times for that - right now it's working. I'm a little disgusted with the C5 right now.
Thanks
Staggerwing
Been through the stupid Steering Column Lock issue and have had the car towed three times for that - right now it's working. I'm a little disgusted with the C5 right now.
Thanks
Staggerwing
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 738
From: panama city beach florida USA
St. Jude Donor '09
in the old days ya hit the starter with a hammer while someone tries to start it. dangerous on stick shift plus access to starter on vettes is limited. check all elect connections then if ya sure its starter clicking r+r it good luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
Could be as simple as damage to the solenoid due to arcing on the contacts that carry the heavy current directly to the starter motor.
First in electrical repair diagnosis is check ALL the electrical wire terminal connections. Proper connection cannot be determined by sight alone. The contact points of the wiring harness must be taken apart to be sure, especially with hidden corrosion. Even slight corrosion can cause problems, by impeding current flow.
First in electrical repair diagnosis is check ALL the electrical wire terminal connections. Proper connection cannot be determined by sight alone. The contact points of the wiring harness must be taken apart to be sure, especially with hidden corrosion. Even slight corrosion can cause problems, by impeding current flow.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
intermittent starter
Yeah, I'm thinking that corrosion may be the culprit too; it just "acts" that way. I'll crawl under her somehow and give it a good look. After reading a post earlier about disconnecting the battery and the dreaded "Service Steering Column Lock" code coming up on some dude, I wanna make sure I don't have to take out the battery for a starter replacement unless I have to.
Thanks for the help...
Thanks for the help...
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 0
From: Roswell New Mexico
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
The first thing i would check is the clutch switch. There is a switch under the dash, that engages when push the clutch in. It lets the car know the clutch is in and it is ok to start. Make sure that is making contact before you get into the harder stuff
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
a) first and foremost .. dont listen to half the people here as they're speaking from experience on OTHER vehicles.
i had the same problem and it turned out to be the starter switch (the actual piece you stick the key in)
few things to check, a) battery b) clutch switch c) anti-theft relay under the pass. foot panel d) grounds e) the key switch f) the year of your vehicle cuz if it's an '05, its a button not a key insert
if all of those check out .. then it could be your starter .. i'd be more inclinded to check all of those before replacing your starter.
good luck. but my bet is on an electrical issue.
i had the same problem and it turned out to be the starter switch (the actual piece you stick the key in)
few things to check, a) battery b) clutch switch c) anti-theft relay under the pass. foot panel d) grounds e) the key switch f) the year of your vehicle cuz if it's an '05, its a button not a key insert
if all of those check out .. then it could be your starter .. i'd be more inclinded to check all of those before replacing your starter.
good luck. but my bet is on an electrical issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
The other day my car wouldn't start... full batter, just got a "click" everytime I turned the key.
Well I had just finished my huge mod project which included R&I of the starter... well my buddy did that part b/c he's got smaller hands... well the main starter wire wasn't tight, more specifically the nut wasn't tight.
After removing the spark plugs and pulling the dipstick out I coudl finally fish a socket in there to get it tight... damn headers.
Now all is well.
So check the connections if you can.
Well I had just finished my huge mod project which included R&I of the starter... well my buddy did that part b/c he's got smaller hands... well the main starter wire wasn't tight, more specifically the nut wasn't tight.
After removing the spark plugs and pulling the dipstick out I coudl finally fish a socket in there to get it tight... damn headers.
Now all is well.
So check the connections if you can.
