Starting Problem
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Starting Problem
Yesterday my 2001 C5 would not start. There seemed to be lots of power, all the lights came on, radio etc. but nothing at the key, no click no nothing. I tried flipping the key over, nothing. I imediately put a battery charger on it and called for a boost. 4 hrs. later the tow truck arrived, tried boosting it, no change, nothing at the key. I called for a tow and had to wait until this morning for a tow truck. I get a call from the garage I took it to, it fired right up for the technician... I had tried it just this morning before the tow truck arrived, I even tried my spare key. Now I'm worried this is going to happen again while we are out for a cruise and the car won't start. Not sure what to think...Any thoughts on what could be the issue, I hate to get stranded somewhere....
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,598
Likes: 4,057
From: Cape Coral, Florida
Welcome to the Forum and like I mention to all new members please fill out your profile…this helps us help you !!…model year, M6/auto,mods, tune ??, and location…you might live in the next town over from me in which case I could take a look at the car!!…it could be wiring, ignition switch, or starter…don’t know your “skills” or if you are just looking at “things it may be” if you are taking it to a shop…are you looking at troubleshooting this yourself ??…do you have a DVOM and know how to use it confidently ??
Last edited by C5 Diag; Jul 7, 2021 at 09:26 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
Sometimes the key resistor contacts in the key portion of the ignition switch get gummed up and the key is not recognized. First try spraying some contact cleaner or combination contact cleaner and lubricant like CLP Break Free into the key slot and work the key back and forth.
Report back-
Report back-
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
It could be a number of things, the Ignition switch contacts that send power to the Park safety switch if your car is an auto, or the clutch safety switch if it's a M6. The contacts that press against the keys resistor chip could be dirty and the BCM does not receive the correct signal and does not send a ground to one side of the TDR coil. All no crank problems should start with verification that the TDR is being energized. The TDR is located above the BCM in the passenger footwell area behind the removable toe board,it is the relay that sends power to energize the starter. Hope this helps.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Sometimes the key resistor contacts in the key portion of the ignition switch get gummed up and the key is not recognized. First try spraying some contact cleaner or combination contact cleaner and lubricant like CLP Break Free into the key slot and work the key back and forth.
Report back-
Report back-
That is what I did when I had similar problems. When my 2nd key did not solve the problem, I used CRC Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner and sprayed it into the ignition key hole. It fixed the problem and for several years I have had no more problems. I also spray the ignition 2 times a year. Just part of my maintenance program with the C5.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
In emergencies when the car won't crank over you can place a heavy gauge jumper between the red and violet wires at the TDR socket Extreme Caution absolutely make sure your car is in Park or neutral because doing this jumper bypasses that requiment and the car will crank, unless you have starter or solenoid problems the car will crank over.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
In emergencies when the car won't crank over you can place a heavy gauge jumper between the red and violet wires at the TDR socket Extreme Caution absolutely make sure your car is in Park or neutral because doing this jumper bypasses that requirement and the car will crank, unless you have starter or solenoid problems the car will crank over.
Where is the TDR socket located?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
So just to ensure you locate the TDR and its socket, it has four wires, red, violet, yellow, and yellow with a black strip. The red and violet wires are a heavier gauge wire size then the two yellow wires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Along with the things Rob mentioned above (post #2), how long have you owned the car, how many miles are on it, and if any recent maintenance has been performed on it?
Good luck, and again welcome to the Corvette Forum...
GUSTO
Good luck, and again welcome to the Corvette Forum...
GUSTO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
a problem I have had happen is during the summer months when running the A/C and high humidity, the vent tube for the A/C will clog up and water will back up in wet the inside passenger foot well. It also will get into the TDR socket and then the no spark, no starter problems will occur and the other electronics will all work. I now carry an extra TDR socket in the glove box. If that is the case you can also roll start the car with the ignition to ON, in a Manuel, get a few friends to push you (in 3rd or 4th gear), clutch in and when rolling pop the clutch. Then you know its the TDR
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667