C5 2003 problem start motor
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
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From: Varese (Italy)
C5 2003 problem start motor
Good morning to all.
My C5 is with manual gear.
Last year i've replaced the starter motor with a new one. No problem till 1 month ago.
One day i used the car for a brief trip around the lake. At least 5 or 6 stop and restart.
Last time when i tried to turn on the engine i heard a simple "tic" and nothing else. i start the car pushing it..
I though that the problem was the battery, then i replaced it with a new one.
Used the car last week and after a brief tour ( the external temperature was about 30°) the same problem. Turning on the ignition key i heard a tic and nothing. Pushing again the car and it starded.
Arrived at home i tried 10 time to start and stop the engine e non problem. Measuring with a multimeter, the alternator put out about 13.5 13.8V.
Could be again the starter motor??
My C5 is with manual gear.
Last year i've replaced the starter motor with a new one. No problem till 1 month ago.
One day i used the car for a brief trip around the lake. At least 5 or 6 stop and restart.
Last time when i tried to turn on the engine i heard a simple "tic" and nothing else. i start the car pushing it..
I though that the problem was the battery, then i replaced it with a new one.
Used the car last week and after a brief tour ( the external temperature was about 30°) the same problem. Turning on the ignition key i heard a tic and nothing. Pushing again the car and it starded.
Arrived at home i tried 10 time to start and stop the engine e non problem. Measuring with a multimeter, the alternator put out about 13.5 13.8V.
Could be again the starter motor??
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
FIRST, is your battery good and fully charged at 12.66 volts ???…yes, it can be the starter or you may have high resistance in the starting circuit…since you already replaced the starter we will “assume” that the positive side of the starting circuit is OK…to check the ground side you can use a 12 volt test light…connect it to battery negative and probe a clean spot on the engine block while attempting to start the car…the test light should NOT illuminate…if its does you’ll have to remove, inspect, and clean the negative battery cable at the block…you can start there.
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
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From: Varese (Italy)
Ok, this evening before start the car, i ll verify the battery voltage.
Question.... the alternator can inlfuence this strange behaviour for the starter motor??
On the panel instruments i read sometimes 13.1 13.4 13.8 14.1 volts
Directly with the multimeter on the battery i read always a value more high.. for example if i read on the panel control 13.3 Volt, on the multimeter i read 13.8.. maybe the tollerance...
But my question is... if the alternator has some problem, it can generate a problem on a starter motor?? My opinion is : no.. not possible... am i right??
Question.... the alternator can inlfuence this strange behaviour for the starter motor??
On the panel instruments i read sometimes 13.1 13.4 13.8 14.1 volts
Directly with the multimeter on the battery i read always a value more high.. for example if i read on the panel control 13.3 Volt, on the multimeter i read 13.8.. maybe the tollerance...
But my question is... if the alternator has some problem, it can generate a problem on a starter motor?? My opinion is : no.. not possible... am i right??
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,433
Likes: 3,981
From: Cape Coral, Florida
Alternator will not affect starter…battery voltage AT the battery is always 0.4-0.5 volts higher than the DIC…only way alternator can affect starter is if it doesn’t charge the battery.
Last edited by C5 Diag; Jun 26, 2024 at 08:04 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
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From: Varese (Italy)
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 500
From: Hilton NY
The ignition switch contacts could be oxidized or the theft deterant relay could be bad. The actual voltage at the battery when the starter is engaged shouldn't drop to almost zero. Check out the excellent write ups from Bill Curlee using the advance thread search, here's one for cleaning the ignition switch contacts. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ir.htmladvance
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2023
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From: Varese (Italy)
It seems that the problem appears when the temperature under the engine hood is very high. When the engine is cold, no problem.
i don t think that the problem is the ignition key, because if i don' t press correctly the clutch pedal, i don't hear the "tic" that i think is coming from the relè.
Sorry if my english is not so good....
i wrote from Italy.
i don t think that the problem is the ignition key, because if i don' t press correctly the clutch pedal, i don't hear the "tic" that i think is coming from the relè.
Sorry if my english is not so good....
i wrote from Italy.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
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From: Varese (Italy)
So do you think that there is a problem on the cables? or a connector not screwed well? Or a ground cable oxidatet?
'll try tho check them..
In the meantime, i ordered a new starter motor
'll try tho check them..
In the meantime, i ordered a new starter motor
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,433
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 815
Likes: 533
From: Miami, Fl
Before it stopped working, was it cranking slower than usual? Had something similar happen on my other LS powered car. Thought it was the starter as it would only click, but the culprit was that the battery to engine ground wire had corroded.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,762
Likes: 937
From: Orlando Florida
In these situations always make sure the battery terminals are tight — not just snug, but slightly tighter than snug. If you still have the factory cables, you can see that the terminal contact surfaces have two teeth, similar to a lock washer. Terminal bolts must be tight enough to seat the terminals.
Since you have replaced the starter, I would also suggest double checking the starter wiring connections are tight — but disconnect the battery first!
Since you have replaced the starter, I would also suggest double checking the starter wiring connections are tight — but disconnect the battery first!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
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From: Varese (Italy)
Last year i replaced the starter motor because one day ( in july 2023 i had the same problem of now) turned on the ignition key, i heard a TAC and nothing. Pushing the car, the car started .
But driving the car i saw that the battery voltage on the display was about 12,9 maximum 13.2 Voltage.
Arrived at home i put the battery in charge. After 3 hours the starter motor start tu run correctly. So with my mechanical i decided to replace the starter motor ( It runs not very fast but non very low... it sounds like a normal starter motor) Replaced the starter motor the car had no problem till 2 weeks ago.
I replaced the battery with a new one...
But last saturday i had the same problem. From july 2023 till 2 weeks ago, no problem. It seems that the problem is arrived now when we have outside hot temperature ( in italy at the moment we have 30°).
Maybe the TDR Relay??
But driving the car i saw that the battery voltage on the display was about 12,9 maximum 13.2 Voltage.
Arrived at home i put the battery in charge. After 3 hours the starter motor start tu run correctly. So with my mechanical i decided to replace the starter motor ( It runs not very fast but non very low... it sounds like a normal starter motor) Replaced the starter motor the car had no problem till 2 weeks ago.
I replaced the battery with a new one...
But last saturday i had the same problem. From july 2023 till 2 weeks ago, no problem. It seems that the problem is arrived now when we have outside hot temperature ( in italy at the moment we have 30°).
Maybe the TDR Relay??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
From: Varese (Italy)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
Sounds like a classic case of heat soak, does the car have headers? Many instances of cars not starting after running for a while, then the engine cools down and it starts right up, if that's what's happening it's the starter motor. Replace the starter and solenoid at the same time.