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Help! Starting problem.

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Old Nov 6, 2015 | 10:25 AM
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Default Help! Starting problem.

Car wouldn't start because it sat for a while bout a brand new battery in. Started right up fine and did so for a a few days. Went to start it this kornjnand it was completely dead. Waited a few minutes and it started fine. Turned it off. Waited. And now it is dead again. I'm guessing some sort of electrical short. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Old Nov 6, 2015 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by STRMLNE
Car wouldn't start because it sat for a while bout a brand new battery in. Started right up fine and did so for a a few days. Went to start it this kornjnand it was completely dead. Waited a few minutes and it started fine. Turned it off. Waited. And now it is dead again. I'm guessing some sort of electrical short. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Check the connections at the battery... check the grounds
Check the connections at the starter...
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Old Nov 6, 2015 | 10:46 AM
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When I went to start the car initially, no security light, no crank. Car had no power. The only thing I did was open the door, and suddenly the security light came back on and the car started fine. Turned it off and then the security light went away and no crank. Believe or not, I just opened and closed the drivers door a few times (as weird as that sounds) and the security light came back on and the car starts fine now continuously. Very strange.

Originally Posted by 8VETTE7
What do you mean by dead?? Won't crank??? Cranks but will not start??

When the car will not start what does the "security" light on the dash do when you turn the key to the ON position but NOT trying to crank the engine??

Stays on solid??

Goes out??


Blinks??



If you have a digital multi meter, measure the voltage across the battery posts and post the voltage reading.
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Old Nov 6, 2015 | 10:51 AM
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Old Nov 7, 2015 | 01:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 8VETTE7
Check your battery connections. Sounds like a loose connection and that could be at the battery or at the starter solenoid..... A vibration as small as opening and closing the door can make or break a loose connection.
Your symptoms are classic.
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Old Nov 7, 2015 | 01:36 AM
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I recently had a no start condition. The starter would click and most of the time start after a few attempts. Later the starter would just click but not turn. I had the battery tested and it was testing bad and since it was 8 years old replaced it with a new one. Later the starter would start clicking again and later it wouldn't do anything except click. I removed the starter and while bench testing saw sparks coming from the starter motor to solenoid cable where it attaches to the solenoid. The power lead that connects the starter to the solenoid was loose. I tried tightening up the nut but it wouldn't budge either way. It was like it welded itself to the stud. I ended up breaking the plastic housing on the solenoid trying to remove the nut. I ended up taking the starter to a auto electric place that rebuilds generators and starters. I had the solenoid replaced for $27 but before I re-installed it read about the infamous broken starter and block issue and went ahead and installed a truck starter that used the two long bolts. Could be your starter. If so, replace it with a two long bolt starter instead of replacing or fixing the stock short bolt/long bolt starter. Some have a different opinion of the truck starter upgrade but I went with it since I already had the starter out. If you need a solenoid, I have a new one you can have for $20.

Art
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Old Nov 7, 2015 | 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by 73Corvette
Check the connections at the battery... check the grounds
Check the connections at the starter...

This.

Your symptoms are classic of a poor connection in the main power cabling.
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