C5 won't start! Please look!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 235
Likes: 4
From: Uniontown Pennsylvania
C5 won't start! Please look!!
2002 corvette with 16K miles.
I turned the key and nothing happens. Dead silence. All accessories work fine. I know that battery and alternator are good to go as well as the terminals.
And its not the security, because the light goes out when I have the key on
I had this problem yesterday and just about gave up when I turned the key from ON to CRANK about 8 times quickly, then out of nowhere it starts. And its fine, I run to town, in and out of a few places, starts up everytime no problem. I go outside the next morning now I cant get it to start at all.
Please any ideas!
Thanks in advance!
I turned the key and nothing happens. Dead silence. All accessories work fine. I know that battery and alternator are good to go as well as the terminals.
And its not the security, because the light goes out when I have the key on
I had this problem yesterday and just about gave up when I turned the key from ON to CRANK about 8 times quickly, then out of nowhere it starts. And its fine, I run to town, in and out of a few places, starts up everytime no problem. I go outside the next morning now I cant get it to start at all.
Please any ideas!
Thanks in advance!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Roswell GA
2002 corvette with 16K miles.
I turned the key and nothing happens. Dead silence. All accessories work fine. I know that battery and alternator are good to go as well as the terminals.
And its not the security, because the light goes out when I have the key on
I had this problem yesterday and just about gave up when I turned the key from ON to CRANK about 8 times quickly, then out of nowhere it starts. And its fine, I run to town, in and out of a few places, starts up everytime no problem. I go outside the next morning now I cant get it to start at all.
Please any ideas!
Thanks in advance!
I turned the key and nothing happens. Dead silence. All accessories work fine. I know that battery and alternator are good to go as well as the terminals.
And its not the security, because the light goes out when I have the key on
I had this problem yesterday and just about gave up when I turned the key from ON to CRANK about 8 times quickly, then out of nowhere it starts. And its fine, I run to town, in and out of a few places, starts up everytime no problem. I go outside the next morning now I cant get it to start at all.
Please any ideas!
Thanks in advance!
Here are some things to check (mine ended up being the starter) the next time it messes up.
1)Battery connections, corrossion also connects at the starter
2)Turn the key and listen for a clicking in the passenger floorboard (This is where the Theft Detterant Relay is located)
3)If you have a 6 speed push the clutch pedal in and out while turning the key, you should also hear the TDR in the floorboard click when you have the pedal all the way down. This tests teh clutch pedal relay
4) You can also check the purple wire coming out of the TDR to make sure it is sending juice to the starter
5)Check to see if juice is getting to the starter when you turn the key, Be careful when checking in case the car starts!
If enough juice gets to the starter but it does not turn over, it is probably a bad solenoid on the starter. It is in a spot right next to the exhaust manifold with no hear shield. Good job GM
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,188
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
You haven't filled out your profile and you gave too little information. Is it a 6 spd? If so, I'd lean toward the clutch switch. Also check very carefully the starter connection. Wiggle the bolt where the wire attaches. Sometimes the starter burns the bakelite mount and loses connection to the solenoid. I doubt it's the battery connection at the battery because all the accessories work and it should at least click the solenoid. Try what Corvettedoug told you and pump the clutch all the way to the floor and see if it is intermittent. Post what happens.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 235
Likes: 4
From: Uniontown Pennsylvania
Thanks!
Thank you guys for your responses. I had to push the car up on some boards to even get it high enough to get my jack underneath out in the yard. Once I got my vette up in the air I took a long round punch, placed it against the starter solenoid and tapped a few times with hammer, go back up and the car starts right up!
Isn't that something though? Car doesn't even have 20K miles on it and that solenoid is already going bad! That solenoid probably becomes heat soaked within a matter of minutes. Agreed, Way to go GM for not heat shielding that very critcal solenoid!
Isn't that something though? Car doesn't even have 20K miles on it and that solenoid is already going bad! That solenoid probably becomes heat soaked within a matter of minutes. Agreed, Way to go GM for not heat shielding that very critcal solenoid!
