Intermittent Starting Problem HELP!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Intermittent Starting Problem HELP!
Before I set it on fire or......have had it at dealership twice and Corvettes of Houston this past week without solution/diagnosis.
02 Coupe - MN6, 43000mi - for about the past 2 months have had instances where it will not start, totally random. When I leave for work in the morning after it has been sitting in the garage overnight, without alarm being set-no probs/has never not started. Drive to work (20min/15miles approx) After work-been parked in the office garage with alarm on will always start. After work if I do errands, etc and drive a short distance it will randomly not start. All dash lights come on/radio/HVAC but nothing else-no starter etc. If I take out key , disarm/unlock doors and try it again and again it will eventually start. Have cleaned key, battery checks out OK on tester, no codes on manual diagnostics as well as code reader at dealer & COH. PLEASE give advice. Thanks
02 Coupe - MN6, 43000mi - for about the past 2 months have had instances where it will not start, totally random. When I leave for work in the morning after it has been sitting in the garage overnight, without alarm being set-no probs/has never not started. Drive to work (20min/15miles approx) After work-been parked in the office garage with alarm on will always start. After work if I do errands, etc and drive a short distance it will randomly not start. All dash lights come on/radio/HVAC but nothing else-no starter etc. If I take out key , disarm/unlock doors and try it again and again it will eventually start. Have cleaned key, battery checks out OK on tester, no codes on manual diagnostics as well as code reader at dealer & COH. PLEASE give advice. Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 5
From: Denver, North Carolina
Hmmm, no start and no codes, that's unusual. First thing I would do would be to check all chassis grounds for being clean and tight. Their are 13 total. I would start with the one above the starter.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,246
Likes: 1,092
From: Dyer, IN
While there are important grounds to be checked, suggesting that the OP check all 13 locations is unnecessary. Better to focus on those locations ,that if corroded, will precipitate a no start condition.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 17
From: Santa Fe TX
Check the battery cables too. I had mine corrode inside and you couldn't even tell (both the battery posts connection and the grounds were clean). From time to time, it would exhibit the same symptoms. From time to time it would also reset the gas mileage to 0.0 on a start.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,246
Likes: 1,092
From: Dyer, IN
Before I set it on fire or......have had it at dealership twice and Corvettes of Houston this past week without solution/diagnosis.
02 Coupe - MN6, 43000mi - for about the past 2 months have had instances where it will not start, totally random. When I leave for work in the morning after it has been sitting in the garage overnight, without alarm being set-no probs/has never not started. Drive to work (20min/15miles approx) After work-been parked in the office garage with alarm on will always start. After work if I do errands, etc and drive a short distance it will randomly not start. All dash lights come on/radio/HVAC but nothing else-no starter etc. If I take out key , disarm/unlock doors and try it again and again it will eventually start. Have cleaned key, battery checks out OK on tester, no codes on manual diagnostics as well as code reader at dealer & COH. PLEASE give advice. Thanks
02 Coupe - MN6, 43000mi - for about the past 2 months have had instances where it will not start, totally random. When I leave for work in the morning after it has been sitting in the garage overnight, without alarm being set-no probs/has never not started. Drive to work (20min/15miles approx) After work-been parked in the office garage with alarm on will always start. After work if I do errands, etc and drive a short distance it will randomly not start. All dash lights come on/radio/HVAC but nothing else-no starter etc. If I take out key , disarm/unlock doors and try it again and again it will eventually start. Have cleaned key, battery checks out OK on tester, no codes on manual diagnostics as well as code reader at dealer & COH. PLEASE give advice. Thanks
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Thanks for your replies- just annoying that BOTH Dealer & Corvettes of Houston had my car for 4-5 days and it NEVER wouldn't start for them. Will try to check grounds (in all my spare time LOL)
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,246
Likes: 1,092
From: Dyer, IN
Since this is an ongoing issue, I would have the lower closeout panel removed to access the TDR, and a meter at the ready. That way when it doesn't start, you can immediately tell if the TDR is working.
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
have you checked that during "no start" condition do you get 12V to the starter solenoid? Put the meter on the starter solenoid wire and have someone crank it-or just like I did if you have a long lead put the meter on the windshield so you can read it from inside the car...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,246
Likes: 1,092
From: Dyer, IN
have you checked that during "no start" condition do you get 12V to the starter solenoid? Put the meter on the starter solenoid wire and have someone crank it-or just like I did if you have a long lead put the meter on the windshield so you can read it from inside the car...
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Homer NY
This is just an idea..I believe the TDR relay has to operate for the car to crank. It requires a OK signal from the BCM to operate and allow the starter to crank...Try buying a spare relay carefully remove the cover and insert it in its position..When the problem appears try and manually operating it..If you get the starter to crank that can narrow down your search..If the relay is already operated you can then look at the starter and its associated wiring and grounds.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
You can easily hear the TDR.... The dealer would have already check this... they would have checked the battery cables...and ignition switch...
one thing that jump out at me is the solenoid which uses a big washer as the contact point.. as time goes on the washer can get burnt and distorted and will not engage.. after it cools down it may or may not engage... the trick to this is when it doesnt start.. use a crow bar or something to tap on the solenoid.. you can reach it from the engine bay... this will dislodge the distorted washer and the started will engage. ...replacement is the fix...
one thing that jump out at me is the solenoid which uses a big washer as the contact point.. as time goes on the washer can get burnt and distorted and will not engage.. after it cools down it may or may not engage... the trick to this is when it doesnt start.. use a crow bar or something to tap on the solenoid.. you can reach it from the engine bay... this will dislodge the distorted washer and the started will engage. ...replacement is the fix...
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Tx
I have this same issue...short drives to corner store...come out and it wont start (75% of the time). Long drives not a problem. Replaced ignition switch and multifunction switch...still no change. I am starting to think starter. I keep thinking its got something to do with the securty system but I have no evidence to support this. It will start after I turn the key over about 20 times then presto. It's starting to happen more frequent.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,246
Likes: 1,092
From: Dyer, IN
I have this same issue...short drives to corner store...come out and it wont start (75% of the time). Long drives not a problem. Replaced ignition switch and multifunction switch...still no change. I am starting to think starter. I keep thinking its got something to do with the securty system but I have no evidence to support this. It will start after I turn the key over about 20 times then presto. It's starting to happen more frequent.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 4
From: WA
exact same symptoms here a year ago. intermittent problems, no charging/battery issues, seems to happen less after longer drives. turned out to be a starter.
when you get a new one, put a heat shield/reflector between the starter and exhaust manifold, it's the heat that gets them.
when you get a new one, put a heat shield/reflector between the starter and exhaust manifold, it's the heat that gets them.