So recently my 01 Z06 has been not starting out of know under the power of the current battery, so I would jump start it until I got a new battery. The one thing you should know is that the battery was relocated to the trunk so it was a small yellow top optima battery. so I figured it was too small for the car(especially because I have aftermarket cams with higher compression ratio). Well i got a big Red top Optima battery that barely fits in the the little cubby hole in the trunk. well it barely started when I put it in there but i thought it was fine, so i took it on a little drive and when i got back I tried to start it nothing so then I tried to jump it with our Suburban and it still would start. So now my car wont start at all and all the connections look solid. I am completely lost.

 

Assuming your battery is good with the proper output you could check for 12 volts at the starter and go from there. Do you get a click or do the gauges sweep? Sounds like a connection problem and with the battery relocated there are several places this could happen. Do you have a dmm and know how to use it?

 

Well at first it would click and than a second later it would crank over and start but now there's no click or attempt to crank, so the gauges sweep when i turn the key. I think I have a dmm laying around but when I took it to my friends shop we tested the connections to the cut off switch and from the alternator and they were fine. I got a hold of the previous owner and said that it could be the ignition switch going out because now it went from sometimes not starting to completely unstartable

 

Could very well be the ignition switch. Could just be a bad connection somewhere or starter solenoid. I am not familiar with the battery relocation kits. Here's something you can check. Courtesy of BC.
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There are a number of things that could cause this but here are the BIG THINGS that it usually turns out to be………..

First things first!! When it fails to start/crank, HOLD the ignition key over to the START POSITION! (assuming you have an NM6) While HOLDING the ignition switch to START,,,, make and break the clutch switch by slightly pressing and releasing the clutch pedal on and off the clutch switch.

When you make and break that switch,, you SHOULD hear the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) in the passengers foot well click ON & OFF. IF,,, you hear that, at least you know that the LOW current side of the TDR CRANK CIRCUIT works.

The OTHER half of the TDR is the HIGH CURRENT side and it supplies 12 VDC (60 AMPS) to the STARTER SOLENOID thru the PURPLE WIRE. If you have 12 VDC on the PURPLE WIRE when the TRD is energized,,, You MOST likely have one of two things wrong.

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1. The connections at the starter solenoid are "loose, dirty, corroded, damaged or the solenoid terminals are broken.

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OR

2. The Starter Solenoid had an internal issue causing it to fail intermittently! THIS MY FRIEND is a EXTERMELY COMMON and WELL DOCUMENTED C5 & C6 PROBLEM! If it were ME, I would just change out the solenoid if that is determined to be the issue. But that’s ME.

When this issue happens,,,,, If you can RAP the solenoid with a mallet, I bet you a cold one that the starter would magically crank!

So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, My bet is you have a defective starter solenoid.

YES YOU CAN just change the solenoid. If you can find one in the parts store, it about $40-$50 BUT,,,,,, ,,,, you must completely remove the starter to change out the solenoid. I found mine in a starter / alternator repair shop and changed it out which solved the issue 100%

So,, that’s my input.

BC

 

Start by pulling and posting all DTC's http://www.c5forum.com/ayc/dtcdic.php

Is the new battery you got group 75 or larger with 700+CCA and 110+ reserve capacity?

After answering the two questions above, here's what I would do:

Take the battery and have it load tested at your autoparts store (I understand it's new; I would do it anyway. It should be free for them to test)

If your battery tests okay verify 12 volts to the starter.

If you're getting power to the starter; the next time you get the no-start condition (sounds like now) take a long screwdriver and a hammer, pop the hood and tap on the starter solenoid then try to start the car. If that fixes it replace your starter solenoid. If that doesn't fix it repair your ignition switch: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html

 

So the problem was related to the starter/solenoid, I took a long screw driver and sparked the connections on the starter and now the Vette is starting every time faster than it ever did. So Im going to take off the connections clean them and put them back on. So even though its starting Im guessing I still need to replace the solenoid because it's defective?

 

I wouldn't replace it just yet. Clean the connections and keep the screwdriver with you.