Starting Issue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: New York
Starting Issue
Hello All, came out this eve to my 98 convert not wanting to start. Volts were great and all lights were nice and bright. All it did when I attempted to start was make a single clicking noise.
Threw some jumper cables on and in about a minute I got it to turn over. I am thinking it is the starter and looks pretty easy to swap out. Just want to get some thoughts before I go and order a replacement. Also, if it is the starter, any tips on making it an easy swap?
Thanks
Threw some jumper cables on and in about a minute I got it to turn over. I am thinking it is the starter and looks pretty easy to swap out. Just want to get some thoughts before I go and order a replacement. Also, if it is the starter, any tips on making it an easy swap?
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
I'd suspect the battery if a jump got the car going. It doesn't take much battery power to run lights and stuff, but it takes a GOOD battery to provide cranking power. How old is the battery ... what brand ??
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Its more likely the battery. I have 296,000 miles on my '99 and still on the original starter. Maybe I'm just lucky, but there are a lot of problems with bad batteries or bad battery connections either at the battery or at the starter itself.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: New York
now I'm totally stumped. Got home from work early today. Tightened terminals and would not start again...just a single click. Threw a set of cables on and still 0. Volts reading now pretty low (11.4-11.8). My plan is get the car started and go get the alt and battery tested. Any suggestions?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 881
Likes: 2
From: hill billy hell
You say tightened terminals does that include at the starter? You may want to take them off at starter and clean them. If they where loose they could have gotten corrosion between the terminals.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: New York
Thanks for the heads up. Just got the battery load tested and it came back as good. Should I bother taking out the alt and getting that tested as well? I'm thinking I'm going to jump right to taking a look at the starter and it's connections.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
It might be a bad crimp on the lug at the starter. If its loosened up or has corrosion in the wire between the wire and lug, you will have a heater instead and not enough power to run the starter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,400
Likes: 3
From: Sarasota Florida
I had your exact starting problem last Fall. After countless frustrating hours of trying to find a bad connection, replacing the battery, clutch switch and two tows to the dealership Bill Curlee came to my rescue and told me it was the starter. I purchased a starter from Auto Zone for about $140, installed it myself in about 1-1/2 hours using jack stands and I have had zero starting issues ever since.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
now I'm totally stumped. Got home from work early today. Tightened terminals and would not start again...just a single click. Threw a set of cables on and still 0. Volts reading now pretty low (11.4-11.8). My plan is get the car started and go get the alt and battery tested. Any suggestions?
The Corvette draws power even when OFF ... but not that much ... if the battery is good there is some other issue with the electrical system.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: New York
I hear the starter clicking from under the car. It is 100% getting juice. The clicking I hear is not coming from under the dash. Besides hitting the starter without damage is there anyway to test a starter before I remove. I am 99% sure this is what it is.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Wow, is that on the original motor without a rebuild?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 327
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
I have a 98 as well--They are known to have a battery drain on the driver's side electric seat adjuster motor---It is a huge drain and will zap a battery overnite--I would charge the battery all day and then disconnect the ground cable on it overnite to see if it will stay up with out being hooked up to anything--This will isolate a battery drain--If in the morining when you hook it up and if it starts- then you know you have a battery drain---If it is dead again--then you have a bad battery---