Vette won't start!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
Vette won't start!!
Good day everyone. So I was going to take out the vette for a spin today. I used it last Sunday and everything worked great. I usually have the car on a battery tender when I am not going to use it for a while but did not this time.
I try to start it and nothing. All the lights on the cluster come up, the stereo comes on, everything looks good but when I go to turn the key, nothing. I checked the battery and it reads about 12.1 volts which should be good. I have had battery problems before but this doesn't look to be.
Any ideas?
I try to start it and nothing. All the lights on the cluster come up, the stereo comes on, everything looks good but when I go to turn the key, nothing. I checked the battery and it reads about 12.1 volts which should be good. I have had battery problems before but this doesn't look to be.
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
Battery is an optima red top. It is about 3 years old. When I turn the key, everything (lights, stereo, etc) normally. I don't notice any dimming in anything power related. I have had problems in the past where I turn the key to start the car and nothing, I then turn the key to the off position and turn it again to start the car and it starts.
I remember this issue being related to some brass connectors (or something along those lines) in the ignition switch. I already placed the battery tender back on the car. I will test starting it once the tender shows the battery is near full charge.
Any other ideas?
I remember this issue being related to some brass connectors (or something along those lines) in the ignition switch. I already placed the battery tender back on the car. I will test starting it once the tender shows the battery is near full charge.
Any other ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 355
From: Rochester New York
Ign switch failure usually will have 0 battery power being fed to the interior in one of the positions. So dash will go black when in position 1 or 2 depending on where the failure is. Or the car may act dead when the key is turned to crank. Hopefully you can duplicate the failure and use a Tech-2 to view ign data in all positions. You can also check to see if the starter relay is functioning, if not remove it and check the terminal for power. You'll need to find the schematics to properly check the circuits involved.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
I will have to test again, but the car does go dark if I attempt to crank (if I recall correctly).
Where is the starter relay and starter on these cars? Is it something I can check without jacking up the car?
Where is the starter relay and starter on these cars? Is it something I can check without jacking up the car?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
The relay is located in the passenger foot well area, it is referred as the TDR, it has four wires attached to it. One is fused 12v power, one is from the ignition switch, one is from the BCM, and the forth is a violet wire that goes down to the starter. If you have 12V and common from the BCM when you try to start, you should have power on the violet wire to the starter. Starter is located on passenger side, you can try to smack it with something and see if it will crank over.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Arvada Colorado
starter/starter solenoid
Just had a problem exactly like this! It's a sad day when your vette doesn't run.
I did a lot of research on this and there are multiple things that could go wrong but I would start at the starter solenoid. You will need to jack it up and get under it. Your starter is located on the passenger side at the rear of the engine. You will have to look up past your exhaust right after the connections to the headers.
Grab a multimeter and check to see if you are getting voltage to your solenoid. There is a positive and negative 3/8" stud that you can put your multimeter on.
My starter solenoid had cracked and the negative stud was hanging off in space. Tighten the connections if you aren't getting voltage and everything looks ok. Make sure your negative battery terminal is DISCONNECTED or else you will be in for a surprise
Let us know!
I did a lot of research on this and there are multiple things that could go wrong but I would start at the starter solenoid. You will need to jack it up and get under it. Your starter is located on the passenger side at the rear of the engine. You will have to look up past your exhaust right after the connections to the headers.
Grab a multimeter and check to see if you are getting voltage to your solenoid. There is a positive and negative 3/8" stud that you can put your multimeter on.
My starter solenoid had cracked and the negative stud was hanging off in space. Tighten the connections if you aren't getting voltage and everything looks ok. Make sure your negative battery terminal is DISCONNECTED or else you will be in for a surprise
Let us know!
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
So I am finally scheduled to work on this issue tomorrow. I didn't have a chance last weekend.
Two questions:
1) Given that I will be disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery, when I go to test the starter (attaching voltmeter to positive and negative) what should I be seeing on the voltmeter as a good or bad reading to know?
2) The starter relay...how to I test that?
Two questions:
1) Given that I will be disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery, when I go to test the starter (attaching voltmeter to positive and negative) what should I be seeing on the voltmeter as a good or bad reading to know?
2) The starter relay...how to I test that?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Ign switch failure usually will have 0 battery power being fed to the interior in one of the positions. So dash will go black when in position 1 or 2 depending on where the failure is. Or the car may act dead when the key is turned to crank. Hopefully you can duplicate the failure and use a Tech-2 to view ign data in all positions. You can also check to see if the starter relay is functioning, if not remove it and check the terminal for power. You'll need to find the schematics to properly check the circuits involved.
Crank / Ignition circuit:
One switch in the IGNITION SWITCH can fail and the rest of the contacts can be fine.
Its usually the higher current load contacts that have the most issues.
BC
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
Thanks for the post Bill. I have reviewed your original thread on to repair this issue and this is what i believe my issue.
I will take a look at the starter tomorrow morning, if that checks out, I will remove the switch and take a look.
I will take a look at the starter tomorrow morning, if that checks out, I will remove the switch and take a look.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 67
From: Bahama North Carolina
So I am finally scheduled to work on this issue tomorrow. I didn't have a chance last weekend.
Two questions:
1) Given that I will be disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery, when I go to test the starter (attaching voltmeter to positive and negative) what should I be seeing on the voltmeter as a good or bad reading to know?
2) The starter relay...how to I test that?
Two questions:
1) Given that I will be disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery, when I go to test the starter (attaching voltmeter to positive and negative) what should I be seeing on the voltmeter as a good or bad reading to know?
2) The starter relay...how to I test that?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Theres no relay between the battery and the starter solenoid main power terminal. However,, ther is a relay between the S terminal on the solenoid and the ignition switch.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 47
From: El Dorado Hills CA
Would I need to have the ignition switch in the on position to test or no key in ignition at all?
Obviously you need to have the battery connected to test voltage at the starter. You need to disconnect it before you get wrenches in there to tighten the nuts. You should see close to battery voltage so make sure it is fully charged. If you have voltage at the starter the relay is good.