C5 Z06 No Start Issue
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2017
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C5 Z06 No Start Issue
Hello, I am having a very frustrating problem with my Corvette and was hoping the community may have some solutions I haven't thought of.
The Situation: The car is a 2003 Z06 with quite a few miles (144k). Due to some life circumstances I was forced to park the car outside and covered for about three weeks. Yesterday I attempted to start the car and while everything appears normal with the key in the ON position (gauge cluster/DIC lights up, radio works, headlights/windows/seats all work) when the key is turned to START nothing happens. No crank, no start, no sound from the starter, nothing at all. At first I thought the battery was low so I attached a trickle charger, didn't fix the issue even with good voltage on the battery (12.7 or so.) So today I called up some friends and we've spent the better part of 5 hours trying to get the car to start with no success. Here is a list of things we've tried so far:
1. Swapping in a known good battery from another C5. This didn't make a difference on my car, but when my Optima was put in their car it started fine. This indicates to me it is not a battery issue.
2. Next we checked fuses 14, 50, and 52 in the passenger footwell fuse box. The fuses are all intact.
2. Next we used a 12 gauge wire to bypass the clutch safety switch. This didn't make a change, and testing the switch with a multimeter showed that the switch is functional. No dice :/
3. After that we put the car on jacks and examined the starter itself with a voltmeter. The solenoid IS getting power from the direct line to the battery, but DOES NOT APPEAR to be getting power from the switched line from the rest of the ignition system. So I think the fault is somewhere between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid. I have been studying the C5 ignition wiring diagram and am at a loss for where the fault might be.
If anyone has any suggestions or troubleshooting tips it would be much appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
The Situation: The car is a 2003 Z06 with quite a few miles (144k). Due to some life circumstances I was forced to park the car outside and covered for about three weeks. Yesterday I attempted to start the car and while everything appears normal with the key in the ON position (gauge cluster/DIC lights up, radio works, headlights/windows/seats all work) when the key is turned to START nothing happens. No crank, no start, no sound from the starter, nothing at all. At first I thought the battery was low so I attached a trickle charger, didn't fix the issue even with good voltage on the battery (12.7 or so.) So today I called up some friends and we've spent the better part of 5 hours trying to get the car to start with no success. Here is a list of things we've tried so far:
1. Swapping in a known good battery from another C5. This didn't make a difference on my car, but when my Optima was put in their car it started fine. This indicates to me it is not a battery issue.
2. Next we checked fuses 14, 50, and 52 in the passenger footwell fuse box. The fuses are all intact.
2. Next we used a 12 gauge wire to bypass the clutch safety switch. This didn't make a change, and testing the switch with a multimeter showed that the switch is functional. No dice :/
3. After that we put the car on jacks and examined the starter itself with a voltmeter. The solenoid IS getting power from the direct line to the battery, but DOES NOT APPEAR to be getting power from the switched line from the rest of the ignition system. So I think the fault is somewhere between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid. I have been studying the C5 ignition wiring diagram and am at a loss for where the fault might be.
If anyone has any suggestions or troubleshooting tips it would be much appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
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
When you turn the key to the ON position and leave it in the ON position what is happening to the SECURITY light on the dash?
Stays illuminated??
Flashes??
Goes out??
If it stays illuminated then the pellet on the key is NOT being correctly read and the VATS is preventing the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) from enabling the starter.
There would also be one or more codes set when the pellet is not correctly read.
Here is the start circuit for a C5:
Attachment 48253899
You can try the following to see if the VATS is the cause of the no start.
USE EXTREME CAUTION TO INSURE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS SET BEFORE TRYING THE FOLLOWING:
With the trans in neutral and the emergency brake set, jumper the red wire for the TDR to the purple wire. If the car starts then either the key pellet is not being correctly read or the TDR is bad.
If the car does NOT start after jumpering the red to purple then likely the starter solenoid is hung up. Solidly wrap on the starter case while someone holds the key in the start position and see if the starter engages.
Stays illuminated??
Flashes??
Goes out??
If it stays illuminated then the pellet on the key is NOT being correctly read and the VATS is preventing the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) from enabling the starter.
There would also be one or more codes set when the pellet is not correctly read.
Here is the start circuit for a C5:
Attachment 48253899
You can try the following to see if the VATS is the cause of the no start.
USE EXTREME CAUTION TO INSURE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS SET BEFORE TRYING THE FOLLOWING:
With the trans in neutral and the emergency brake set, jumper the red wire for the TDR to the purple wire. If the car starts then either the key pellet is not being correctly read or the TDR is bad.
If the car does NOT start after jumpering the red to purple then likely the starter solenoid is hung up. Solidly wrap on the starter case while someone holds the key in the start position and see if the starter engages.
BC
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
When you turn the key to the ON position and leave it in the ON position what is happening to the SECURITY light on the dash?
Stays illuminated??
Flashes??
Goes out??
If it stays illuminated then the pellet on the key is NOT being correctly read and the VATS is preventing the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) from enabling the starter.
There would also be one or more codes set when the pellet is not correctly read.
Here is the start circuit for a C5:
Attachment 48253899
You can try the following to see if the VATS is the cause of the no start.
USE EXTREME CAUTION TO INSURE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS SET BEFORE TRYING THE FOLLOWING:
With the trans in neutral and the emergency brake set, jumper the red wire for the TDR to the purple wire. If the car starts then either the key pellet is not being correctly read or the TDR is bad.
If the car does NOT start after jumpering the red to purple then likely the starter solenoid is hung up. Solidly wrap on the starter case while someone holds the key in the start position and see if the starter engages.
Stays illuminated??
Flashes??
Goes out??
If it stays illuminated then the pellet on the key is NOT being correctly read and the VATS is preventing the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) from enabling the starter.
There would also be one or more codes set when the pellet is not correctly read.
Here is the start circuit for a C5:
Attachment 48253899
You can try the following to see if the VATS is the cause of the no start.
USE EXTREME CAUTION TO INSURE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS SET BEFORE TRYING THE FOLLOWING:
With the trans in neutral and the emergency brake set, jumper the red wire for the TDR to the purple wire. If the car starts then either the key pellet is not being correctly read or the TDR is bad.
If the car does NOT start after jumpering the red to purple then likely the starter solenoid is hung up. Solidly wrap on the starter case while someone holds the key in the start position and see if the starter engages.
In the meantime anything else that it could be? Perhaps related to the BCM? Though I am not seeing any BCM codes in the DIC...
Thanks for your help!
Last edited by tooslowfiveoh; Feb 11, 2018 at 10:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Update: I have checked the voltage of the PURPLE wire leading out of the TDR relay and voltage is GOOD, 12.2 volts coming out of the relay when the key is turned to START. So am I correct in thinking the issue is NOT anything before the TDR like the ignition switch/TDR itself? I believe so.
That leaves nothing left in the diagram (if I am reading it correctly) except for the 5 listed underhood fuses and the starter solenoid itself. I will check the fuses and if they are good I assume I will need to replace the starter. (Will bang on it once or twice first to see if it's as easy as that.)
I will update further with more details. If anyone has any other advice always appreciated!
That leaves nothing left in the diagram (if I am reading it correctly) except for the 5 listed underhood fuses and the starter solenoid itself. I will check the fuses and if they are good I assume I will need to replace the starter. (Will bang on it once or twice first to see if it's as easy as that.)
I will update further with more details. If anyone has any other advice always appreciated!
Last edited by tooslowfiveoh; Feb 11, 2018 at 11:19 PM.
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
With battery voltage at the purple wire at the TDR with the key in the START position, that leaves ONLY the starter solenoid and the wire between the TDR and the starter solenoid. If you have battery at the purple wire at the solenoid then the solenoid is either hung up or failed.
They FAIL.
When they do, they must be replaced!!Give it the RAP TEST. That usually proves that it the issue.
Bill
