What's Wrong With My C5??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: in
What's Wrong With My C5??
I have a 2000 c5 with several mods. The problem is, sometimes the car for no reason won't start. It seems to have plenty of juice, but won't fire. Then I get messages that read as follows. "reduced engine power", "low tire pressure", "service engine soon", " low fuel". After two hours of trying to start it, I pulled on wires running from the battery and it started. My buddy who is a mechanic says the problem is, there is a wire that probably got burnt and there's a ground touching metal. I think i described that correctly, anyways if someone could give input on this based on experience or knowing someone with this problem, it would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks, joe
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Nevada Texas
puter
sensor input to computer problem, when you took the battery cable off and put it back on the processor went to a basic reset and to basic e-prom settings. that's what let it start. some sensory input is telling the computer to either shut off fuel or ignition. after gettng it to start, scan the error codes and see what's failing.
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
Check out this sickey post and see if cleaning the underhood grounds will help.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=896875
BC
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=896875
BC
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
sensor input to computer problem, when you took the battery cable off and put it back on the processor went to a basic reset and to basic e-prom settings. that's what let it start. some sensory input is telling the computer to either shut off fuel or ignition. after gettng it to start, scan the error codes and see what's failing.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 464
Likes: 2
From: New Bern NC
I would check and make sure your wires are tight on your starter if they are check your wires with an ohm meter. Which ever wire you have to pull on to get it started is the on with the problem (negative=ground, positive=to starter)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: in
Thanks for the replies. In reference to the comment about unhooking the battery. It didn't start after I unhooked it, it started an hour later after pulling on the wires. What do you guys think about my friends opinion on the wire grounding out?
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 464
Likes: 2
From: New Bern NC
Very unlikely. If it was an actual short to ground when you disconnected and reconnected the battery sparks would be flying everywhere. The battery cables would be really hot and it would drain your battery.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 726
Likes: 6
From: Media Pennsylvania
2 things to check
Inspect the connectors that join the door harness to the body harness (should be numbered connector 200 and 201 in your service manual), they can be reached by pulling off the door sill and removing a small square black plastic cover just below the dash. I have had several instances of these connectors having loose terminals and causing the exact problems you describe. Pay special attention to the tan wire on the right door connector and the brown wire on the left door connector. Also check to make sure that u dont have water leaking in the car on the passenger side, that can get in the BCM and cause all kinds of problems.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: in
The thing that is confusing me is. Why did the car start after I jerked on the wires running from the battery? If it was some of these problems that are listed, would that have made it start? or was it just a coincidence?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
If your nuts on the starter are not tight, pulling on the wires could have made a "good enough" connection to start it. The wires could have then shifted and you are back to a poor connection at the starter.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: bay city mi.
Inspect the connectors that join the door harness to the body harness (should be numbered connector 200 and 201 in your service manual), they can be reached by pulling off the door sill and removing a small square black plastic cover just below the dash. I have had several instances of these connectors having loose terminals and causing the exact problems you describe. Pay special attention to the tan wire on the right door connector and the brown wire on the left door connector. Also check to make sure that u dont have water leaking in the car on the passenger side, that can get in the BCM and cause all kinds of problems.
