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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 698
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
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
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.
