I searched the forums and didn't see anything...sooo...

Has anyone got a schematic of the Starter Circuit for a C5 that they can post or PM to me? Or even a link to an existing thread I missed...

The car is an '02 ZO6, and has an intermitent starting problem. Two dealers haven't been able to figure it out (only going to dealers because we bought a warranty with the car that requires it...never again will I waste the money on one of them!), so I want a copy of the schematic to be able to see what all is involved in the system.

Thanks!

 

The ignition switch is a known weak point, do a search for that.

 

Lucky or Bill Curlee will have the schematics for your car. As stated, the ignition switch is a real possibility and also the starter solenoid itself. Tell us more about what's happening. Are you hearing the solenoid at all? Is the security light flashing? Have you pulled codes yet?

 

 

Thanks for all the input and the schematic! Here are details, so that after this thread dies it will be complete if somebody else is searching for information later:

Problem seems to be more with the service advisors and techs at the dealer than the auto itself. We purchased a warranty with the car when we got it in December, requiring us to get to a dealer to honor it.

Car issues:

1. Key turned to "On", all the gauges check and the dash lights come on.
2. Turn the key to the "Start" position and the dash goes completely dead with all lights going out. Nothing happens at all.
3. Release the key back to the "On" position and the dash lighs back up.

I searched here and read every post about starting issues and came to believe it was 90% chance of being the ignition switch.

First dealer had car almost 3 weeks and replaced a column lock solenid. (Kept telling me what experts their techs were and how the average person could never understand something as complex as a Corvette. Finally I explained that the FAA says I am sharp enough to fix airplanes, and they are somewhat more complex than a simple car.Still kept telling me they had never heard of C5's with ignition switch issues....) Part wasn't covered in warranty, so neither was labor or anything else. Cost me $750.00. Grrr...

Went to selling dealer who wouldn't reimberse me $750.00, but promised to make good and even tow car if I had any more issues. A week later, same issue came back. Dealer towed car and never called me. I made a number of calls to advisors who kept telling me, "It starts fine for us, so we don't see any problem. It doesn't have any error codes."

Wife got mad at me over car, I passed the anger along to Sales Manager at dealer holding car. Service MANAGER called, spoke in detail to me and acknowledged my points including "If the electrical system dies compleletly, HOW would it record an electrical based error code in a system that is...electric?" He promised to address the issue.

It's been a few days, so I requested the schematic here, hoping to be even more knowledgeable in my next conversation if I needed to be.

I guess posting here was the Silver Bullet that killed the problem. Less than 5 minutes after the first posting, the Dealer called and said the car was ready to be picked up....they had to replace the Ignition Switch.... Hmmm..I wonder why I never thought of that?

Thanks again to everyone for their prompt help!!! So far, the best part of owning this Vette has been this forum group. I can't wait to drive it...finally!

 

Let us know if that solves it.

 

I SERIOUSLY doubt if the problem is solved!!! Hate to be the person with GLOOM and DOOM.......

If it fails again,,, PM ME and I will do some one on one problem solving. Man, that dealer that charged you $750 saw you coming or had NO IDEA what they were doing. I would be very PISSED!!

NORMALLY, when this sort of issue happens, you have to DIVIDE the in HALF at the THEFT DETERRENT RELAY and figure out if its a LOW current relay signal issue OR a high current / solenoid issue.

MY BET,,,, YOU HAVE A DEFECTIVE STARTER SOLENOID. Been there done that..

BC

 

I hate to jump in here with so few posts, but I have been through the same thing. I think that was one of the reasons the previous owner sold the car - starter issues that he couldn't get repaired. I saw some of his paid repair receipts for this same issue. Previous car owner's comment to me of "the dealer couldn't replicate the problem". The problem reoccured with me several times and always at the worst time possible. I studied this schematic so I would be ready to diagnos the problem when it happened again. Replaced the relay because it was cheap, but it didn't fix the problem.
Ended up hooking a wire and cheap 12 volt test light directly to the starter relay wire (at the starter). The next time I had a no crank issue, I could tell that the starter solenoid was getting 12 volts and all other components up to the starter were good. Replaced the starter and solved the problem. Bill Curlee is a valuable source of knowledge.

 

My feeling is that neither dealer gave a damn about the car because it isn't a new sale. Therefore, it gets shoved off to the side until they feel like dealing with it. After all, factory warranty usually pays a shop more than an aftermarket policy will. Why work on those cars until the owner screams? That said, when I began to push them on "When do I get my car back...?", they threw some part or an other in place and called it good.

If it dies again, I will bring this thread back to life and dig deeper. I can't see wasting my time with this useless waranty anymore, so I'll fix it myself. However, if I do have to fix it, I will be asking the dealer for the money I spent on the warranty back since the people who I have to go to can't seem to fix cars.....

 

Thats why there called " STEALERSHIPS"