Issues with Starting and other, Need advice
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 3
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Issues with Starting and other, Need advice
Hello, here is some backstory as it might be important. I have had a 2001 C5 Corvette for a few years, its been mostly reliable, but recently I had 2-3 problems.
For the past year or so the car was starting weird, initially just a little delayed, like barely anything, an more recently it was almost entirely doing nothing when turning key like in the video at first. Some days its better, some days worse it seems, but overall worsening.
Initially I thought it was the grounds and saw it should be easy to clean, so I tired to do that, but accidentally broken the post... I repaired it to the best of my ability by drilling a new pilot hole, getting a wider self drilling screw, upgrading the ground terminals to use the right ones, ensured it was all done properly and water tight to avoid corrosion, then after it was in put some dielectric grease on it. I think it was a good learning experience however as I had never worked on my car much before this. I am wanting to do more if possible, but also willing to take to mechanic if it is something that gets to be too many parts I could break further.
My problems:
Thank you for any advice!
For the past year or so the car was starting weird, initially just a little delayed, like barely anything, an more recently it was almost entirely doing nothing when turning key like in the video at first. Some days its better, some days worse it seems, but overall worsening.
Initially I thought it was the grounds and saw it should be easy to clean, so I tired to do that, but accidentally broken the post... I repaired it to the best of my ability by drilling a new pilot hole, getting a wider self drilling screw, upgrading the ground terminals to use the right ones, ensured it was all done properly and water tight to avoid corrosion, then after it was in put some dielectric grease on it. I think it was a good learning experience however as I had never worked on my car much before this. I am wanting to do more if possible, but also willing to take to mechanic if it is something that gets to be too many parts I could break further.
My problems:
- The starting issues persists like the video, once driving the car is great and works well, but starting is still an issue. I am thinking it's starter, spark plugs, or maybe i did the grounding poorly?
I wanted to ask if anyone knew a good direction to go with this or explain how easy or hard each solution is, from what I understand its easiest to change spark plugs, starter may be more work. - Passenger side Headlight pops up half way and stops, turns on fine and lights work fine, but it just stops half way... I am worried I broke something with that when fixing grounds as that just wasn't an issue before, but that would be weird to be related, Was curious about that too, I will plan to check the gear housing, but not sure if there is a better way to diagnose that.
- This one isn't as important I don't think, but I can hear a squeak when turning the wheel, very minor and only when making slow turns in like a parking lot do I ever hear it.
Thank you for any advice!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
From watching your video I believe you have something going on with your starter solenoid, or loose dirty cables at the starter solenoid, your headlight problem is probably a stripped gear, and I won't even try to guess what the steering wheel squeak is about.
