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Hey everyone. Hopefully someone can give me some good news/advice.
Earlier this morning I drove the vette, drove and started fine with no weird issues or anything. Then later this morning I go to start it, and it doesn't start. The dash lights come on, ignition chimes, fuel pump primes, and I can hear a clicking from inside the cabin around the passenger footwell. I've done a little research and have seen it can be anything from a dirty resistor plug in the key (which I cleaned with iso), to a bad BCM (which I'm praying it's not). I've also heard it could be a starter, bad cables to the BCM, and a few others. The batter is only two weeks old, and the car has been driven regularly. Any advice on where to start? Thanks!
Edit:
Got the car running. I had the new key ordered, tried the mallet on the starter and no dice. Then I had a friend who drove an 06 Malibu who suggested I do the following with my fob:
Remote lock
Remote lock
Remote unlock
Remote unlock
Open car door
Get inside
Close car door
Remote lock
Remote lock
Remote unlock
Remote unlock
Open car door
Close car door
Start car
I was doubtful, but he said it re-syncs the BCM or something like that. I'm not sure, but I can't knock it. Hopefully its permanent or the fix is repeatable. Thanks for the advice everyone!
Last edited by Pop-Up Papi; Mar 22, 2021 at 10:41 PM.
Reason: SOLVED
Sometimes best start with the simple stuff. Recognizing the battery is a new, it might nonetheless be defective (and if not, you may have a bad alternator). If you haven't done this already, perhaps pull the battery and have it tested.
This can be a few things so without knowing your diagnostic skills and equipment I’ll hold off on where you should begin your troubleshooting and yes it can be all the things you mentioned !!
This can be a few things so without knowing your diagnostic skills and equipment I’ll hold off on where you should begin your troubleshooting and yes it can be all the things you mentioned !!
I guess you could say I'm at a basic point? That's kind of a hard question to answer objectively. I'm just starting out my DIY garage, ans completely self/YouTube taught. I have a jack+stands, a few mechanics sets, etc. no OBD scanner though. I have worked on my cars myself, but never anything crazy like motor swaps. Mostly maintenance.
You indicated you cleaned your key. Did you try a second key? Also, skirt some CRC Mass Air Flower Sensor cleaner into the ignition. My issue like yours was dirty contacts in the ignition. Been 3 years no problem.
If you have a DVOM and basically know how to check power and grounds in a circuit here is the wiring for an 01 on my Mitchell website...you may be hearing the TDR relay clicking at the passengers footwell where the BCM resides...TDR relay is above the BCM !!...if you need help with the circuit give us a yell..you may need to get underneath the car so be careful !!...you can try jumping the red and purple wires at the TDR relay and see what happens..you can also see if you have 12 volts at the yellow wire at the TDR...if so everything is good upstream to the ignition switch!!..if you really want to know how to understand and diagnose cars watch the ScannerDanner YouTube videos...Paul is a LEGEND and if you can spare $11.00 a month subscribe to his Premium channel... you will learn A LOT !!
I’m more of a non-technical but common sense approach to these things. And I’ve dealt with many on my car. More often than not, it’s a simple easy fix that most C5’s have had or are common therewith.
Step one: First, I would take your battery to autozone or equivalent and have them check it. If there are no dead cells (which there could be dead cells even though it’s new) have them recharge it. If dead cells, then warranty time.
im guessing the car will start fine thereafter no matter what option above.
if you didn’t have a bad cell, I think you may have a battery draw. But we can evaluate this after step one. In the event of a battery draw there are a few very common causes that can be checked easily.
Last edited by Chogan835; Mar 21, 2021 at 04:43 PM.
I’m more of a non-technical but common sense approach to these things. And I’ve dealt with many on my car.
Step one: First, I would take your battery to autozone or equivalent and have them check it. If there are no dead cells (which there could be dead cells even though it’s new) have them recharge it. If dead cells, then warranty time.
im guessing the car will start fine thereafter no matter what option.
if you didn’t have a bad cell, I think you may have a battery draw. But we can evaluate this after step one.
Just got back from AutoZone, said the battery is 100% charged.
You indicated you cleaned your key. Did you try a second key? Also, skirt some CRC Mass Air Flower Sensor cleaner into the ignition. My issue like yours was dirty contacts in the ignition. Been 3 years no problem.
I have to wait till Monday to get a 2nd key. Also, tried the CRC and no dice either.
If you have a DVOM and basically know how to check power and grounds in a circuit here is the wiring for an 01 on my Mitchell website...you may be hearing the TDR relay clicking at the passengers footwell where the BCM resides...TDR relay is above the BCM !!...if you need help with the circuit give us a yell..you may need to get underneath the car so be careful !!...you can try jumping the red and purple wires at the TDR relay and see what happens..you can also see if you have 12 volts at the yellow wire at the TDR...if so everything is good upstream to the ignition switch!!..if you really want to know how to understand and diagnose cars watch the ScannerDanner YouTube videos...Paul is a LEGEND and if you can spare $11.00 a month subscribe to his Premium channel... you will learn A LOT !!
As C5 Diag stated the clicking sound in the passenger footwell area is the TDR, that's means that everything upstream is working fine. The TDR could be the cause of the no cranking, you can jumper the red and violet wires at the TDR socket, CAUTION doing this bypasses the requirement for the car to be in park or the clutch depressed. If it cranks replace the TDR, if it still doesn't crank then you have loose cable connections at the starter solenoid, or your starter/solenoid is failing.
2001 C5 Not Starting
