In March of 24 I purchased a 2004 Convertible from a older gentleman. He always maintained the car at his local Chevy dealer. The vehicle had 41,600 miles when I bough it, always garaged, no winters or rain. I dropped the car off for service at my local Corvette shop and they installed a new battery. The previous owner always had a battery tender on the car. My car is kept at a storage facility and I always went once a week to start the car while waiting for warmer weather. Even after sitting idle for a week the car would start instantly. Currently the car is at home. Now, if the car sits for a couple of days it will take several seconds to start but after driving all subsequent starts are instant. The other day I installed a battery tender and started the next morning. With a fresh charge, the engine started instantly. So I started again but when I engaged the started the voltage dropped to 10 volts until the engine fired. Battery charged quickly. So I tried it again. This time I turned the switch until the voltmeter settled on 13 volts, then engaged the starter, same thing, voltage drop to 10volts until I release the starter. Is this normal or do I have to start looking at wiring or replacing the starter. Thanks

 

Your worring about nothing, the voltage has to drop when the starter is energized, you might have a pressure leak down which is causing the delayed starting, are you allowing the 2 second fuel pump prime to finish before turning the key to start the car.

 

The hard starting is only if the car sits for a few days. I installed a battery tender the other day and I will see what that does. No I don't wait 2 seconds before I start. I'll try that as well. Thanks for the reply

 

I'd take the car back to your Corvette shop and let them diagnose it...I'm assuming you will not doing the diagnosis.

 

Just enjoy driving your car, as I stated earlier there is nothing wrong with your car, the two second fuel pump prime ensures that the car starts quickly after not being used for several days. Allow the gauges to sweep and the indicators to go off before turning the key to start.

 

I'm 74 and mechanically inclined but our HOA won't even let you change a tire on the property. The previous owner had the car 11 years and took it to the Chevy dealer regularly. The original owner that bought the car only drove it 750 miles in 8.5 years. The second owners last visit he was told the RH fuel tank sending unit was bad. With a Full tank the gauge would go to zero and remain there until the tank got to 3/4. The work order states that a test was performed and the RH tank sensor is faulty. He put the car up for sale shortly after. I assume because he was told how much it would cost to replace the sending unit. The car is twenty years old, while you have the transaxle and suspension removed, it would be wise to replace everything in both tanks. Not sure I will go back to the Corvette shop. I spent $7K in repairs and new seat upholstery. My budget is depleted for this year. I think the best route would be to unload the car to someone with deeper pockets than I. The car looks gorgeous and the interior is pristine but I sense big dollar issues down the road. BTW, thank you for your service. I'm a Vietnam era Vet, 1968-1970

 

I will go that route and see what happens. I do know the RH fuel tank sensor is bad. That's why the previous owner sold the car. He took the car to his local Chevy dealer regularly. His last service was for a bad fuel gauge and the tech diagnosed a bad sensor. He put the car up for sale shortly after. I assume because he was told how much it would cost to repair. I have all eleven years of service receipts. I more worried that now, a fuel pump will go at this stage of the game. The slow starting may be the start of bigger issues down the road.

 

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