I had a strange experience today with my 01 Z06.

Took it out for my Sunday tool around and as always ran beautiful.

Stopped for a sub and when I came out to leave I turn the key to the access position and the radio came on and all gauges lit up....strapped my seat belt on pressed the clutch in turned the key to crank the car and nothing....... I tried about 6 times and I still got nothing. If I held the key in the crank position all the gauges and the radio would turn off until the key was released (this may be normal im not sure as im weak electrically) and then they would come back on. I Popped the hood and checked the connections on the battery they were good and tight its a red top optima and only about 6 months old. Climbed back in tried again nothing...decided to see if my lights were working they popped right up and came on. Had the wife stand in front of the car while I hit the key again with the lights on to see if they went out .....as I turned it to start and the car fired right up.

Decided to drive right home since we were about 20 miles away and didnt want to get stuck somewhere. Got home without stopping but cranked the car 10 times in a row in the driveway and it fired right up.

Im a pro-active kind of guy instead of a reactive kind of guy so I would like to try and figure this out before I get stuck somewhere.

With my limited electrical knowledge I was thinking either the starter solenoid or maybe the clutch safety switch????

Any thoughts or ideas?

 

It sounds like the clutch switch as you mentioned.

 

I'm going through the exact same thing right now... It could be any number of things, mine turned out to be the starter solenoid. Here's some reading for you... This is a common issue.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...rt-issues.html

 

Thanks for the help guys!

8Vette....ill pull those codes first chance i get and post them up. It might take me a day or two but ill get them.

 

When you turn the key to START and press in the clutch and nothing happens,,, Hold the key to START and lift up on the clutch. As you pump the clutch up and down ON /OFF the clutch safety switch, you should hear the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) in the passengers foot well click each time. If thats happening your getting the correct low current relay power to the relay. If it wont crank, your either not getting the 12 VDC 60 amp starter solenoid power thru the relay OR the solenoid is bad. My bet is on the bad solenoid

Solenoids frequently cause this very issue Its a well known fault and easily repaired with a new solenoid ($50.) The tough part is starter removal.

I lived with mine until I was ready to do my heads/cam up-grade. With the header out, its an easy access.

 

Bill,

You were dead on about mine being the solenoid... I'm replacing it this weekend when I do my clutch swap...

 

It will probably be the starter solenoid in my case as i have headers also. I remember on my old school camaros we used to run into that problem with the headers cooking them....