Hey Guys

First time post so forgive me if Im not following typical protocol. I just purchased a new 02 z06 and I have been having the no start issue with the security light on. When I purchased the car the security light was on but the car would start every time with no issue, but since then there has been more and more no starts daily. I checked my codes and I had a b2721 that would remain around always so I cleared all the codes in the car but the car has not started since. I am waiting on a new key and while waiting I have tried the contact cleaner on the key pellets and ignition but it didnt work. If this key doesnt work tomorrow, how should i go about determining what is the actual cause? also was thinking about having the VATS system tuned out completely, is this an effective and smart way to handle this situation?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Your in good hands c5muscle 8VETTE7 is very helpful and patient..

 

Thanks 8VETTE7 I appreciate the help. I have read the forum you posted and it seems close but not the same as my problem. I have now had a new key cut and it worked great for a couple days then stopped today. Each time it hasn't started I've tried to spray contact cleaner and it started up next time around but today it will not start. Since having the key cut, I no longer have a security light blinking when I try to turn it over which makes me think the key is read properly. I was thinking about having the vats tuned out to avoid future problems with this. What's your take on what I should do next and if you think the vats tune out is effective

 

What do you mean it won't start... won't turn over... turns over doesn't fire... no click... no nothing...

 

The car won't turn over. All lights and and gauges appear normal then just go dead when I turn the key to crank. The car fires up great first try when security issue isn't present

 

Have someone whack the starter while the key is in the start position if it does then it's your starter...

 

I may have to go buy a volt meter because I don't have any access to one at my buddys place. Car is not starting here so its kind of tough to get under it and check connections.

This issue was around when I got the car but when the key fixed it I went and put my headers on.

The car is lowered and no jack is present at the moment so bumping the starter may be tough to do. Worst comes to worst im going to kick start it to get it home where I have access to tools, jack, etc.

 

the car only has 58,000 km on it so not sure if that would play a factor in either of those issues. Sounds like I'm going to get a volt meter and figure it out. If it turns out to be the tdr or clutch pedal, is that fixable in the driveway?

 

So I just went out and started the car up first try and the security light came on once the car started and stayed on. I started the car 5 times after that and it worked fine and security light stayed on when the car was running . During the drive the security light turned off and on before staying off for the remainder of the drive. Should I be checking current codes or is a volt meter the route I need to go still?

 

Thanks for the help at 8VETTE7. I read that post and but didn't feel it related to me once the new key was working for a few days. How do I go about replacing the key cylinder? Any cheap fixes or do I simply just go find a new one?

 

Right on thanks for the suggestions, I will definitely be replacing both those when I pull everything apart.

So the car didnt start this morning but when the the key was in the crank position and I pumped the clutch I could hear the clutch pedal clicking. I had to push start the car today to get it home and tried once not going fast enough and it kicked over a bit when i dumped the clutch then died. The car would then turn over and crank to try and start but then die immediately (first time this had happened after a no start), no security lights present. We got some more speed and the car kick started fine with no security lights or anything and when I got home I tried the starting the car again multiple times and it worked fine.

Now that Im home I have access to tools, volt meter, etc. and I have a hunch it might be a connection somewhere. Before I pay the dealer tons of money, should I check the relays with a volt meter 8VETTE7, or are you pretty confident that I will need the key cylinder replaced?

Also sorry if Im asking too many questions. This is my third c5 vette and I have solved multiple issues with my previous cars by simply reading these forums but this is the first time I have had an issue I couldn't crack myself and Im just trying to absorb as much info as possible because I plan to have a c5 vette for most if not all my life.

 

So the car didnt start this morning but when the the key was in the crank position and I pumped the clutch I could hear the clutch pedal clicking. I had to push start the car today to get it home and tried once not going fast enough and it kicked over a bit when i dumped the clutch then died. The car would then turn over and crank to try and start but then die immediately (first time this had happened after a no start), no security lights present. We got some more speed and the car kick started fine with no security lights or anything and when I got home I tried the starting the car again multiple times and it worked fine.

Often when a starter starts acting up... IF it stops in just the right place it WILL not crank the motor... that is where the whacking the starter can sometimes trigger the contacts to do their thing and waallla it cranks... or if you JUMP start the car sometimes just a little more VOLTAGE will make it work... then your back to, it might or it might not depending on the connectons and voltage to the solenoid...JUST because it starts 10 times in a row doesn't mean the 11th time it's going to turn the motor over again...just depends on where it stops sometimes....YOUR bypassing the starter when you push start it so it fires up when you dump the clutch...Like 8vette7 THIS makes me think it is your starter...

 

I went through this.
When I pulled my starter, found that 'someone' before I bought the car, must have had the starter out, or replaced it.
The connections were just a 'bit loose' and resulted in rusted, burnt connections right there at the starter solenoid.
I cleaned up the connections, tightened everything very nicely.
Original starter still in there a year later.

 

Hey Guys

Thanks for all the suggestions, I have been super busy lately so I have not had a chance to check all the connections and use the volt meter. I also was waiting to see if I could find any consistencies in the no start but there doesn't seem to be any although I have noticed some small things that may help provide some info on the situation.

Since my last post whenever the car doesn't start/turn over now the security light will be blinking, this is the only consistent thing I have noticed in regards to dash lights (security light will still turn on and off while driving with no consistency on when or where). There have been a couple occasions where the car didn't start and I pulled out and repositioned the key and it turned over and started up immediately (I was under the impression that once a no start happens the fuel would be shut off for two minutes so I thought this was interesting). Secondly, I have noticed that when the starter does turn over, it seems to take a bit longer cranking for the car to actually start running (maybe double the time as a typical crank over and start up from when I first got the car).

Since the one consistent no start at my buddys I have never had to try more than 3 times to start it so I was somewhat less concerned as it seems to work 80% of the time. I have now cleaned the key slot in the ignition with contact cleaner multiple times and also used an air compressor to try and blow any gunk out but I am still getting the same issue. Today I was in the area of a local corvette shop that was busy but took a quick look at it and bypassed the vats through an hp tuner, this turned the security light off but the car still would not start so he put the vats back in.

Is any of his information relevant in determining what this problem is? The corvette shop said they need to pull the dash apart and take a look at everything before they can give a firm diagnosis but they are busy until next week but at this point I think thats what Im leaning towards.

Also sorry if it seems like I am jumping back and forth between problems that is making it more difficult to diagnose. The car has no consistencies in terms of when, where, and why it wont start so its hard to report something accurate back to you guys.

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

Artgle

were you getting the security light as a result from those rusted connections or was yours just simply not starting?

73Corvette

If the starter is bad like you suspect, how would you explain how any time the car cranks over it will start? I feel like it would still try and crank over if its a malfunctioning started rather then just simply not turn over at all. In all honesty you would probably know better then me, just seems weird how it randomly wont start

 

IF it's turning the motor over... it's NOT the starter... unless like I thought you were saying that it randomly won't TURN the motor over...then it still could be the starter...

 

Yea the only time the car won't turn over, the security light will start blinking and I typically need to wait 2 mins to try again or re adjust the key

 

That does NOT sound like starter...

Now you need to go BACK to post #17 and start over...
DO YOU HAVE ANY CODES?

 

Hey 8VETTE7

This may be reaching for a theory but it seems as though the majority of the time it has an issue starting up the car is either very hot in the sun or hot from driving it for a while. Could this also play into any connection related issue?

 

Sorry I just couldn't resist... the hotter the starter is IF it is an issue the LESS likely it is to work... often times a bad starter when cooled off it might work then when it gets hot it won't...
I am going to politely back out of this thread and leave it to those that know WAY more than I do about this system... watch and learn
GOOD LUCK I know these guys will get you going