problems starting the corvette
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
problems starting the corvette
hey guys please point me in the right direction if there is a sticky that i can't find but here it goes. i just bought a 2005 corvette (not a z06) after about a month it is giving me problems starting. i changed the FOB battery (didn't help). what it does is it just cranks and cranks but no start. so i get out of the car open the hood do nothing basically because the cables on the battery are super tight (red top optima). get back in the car same thing, then it finally starts. i checked the fuse box and noticed that the fuel pump relay and the one above it have a light brown coating as if they got burned or something. so it kind of makes sense. is it a known problem to have problems starting due to a relay? it seems to be purely electrical because as soon as it starts it runs great and very strong. car has 51,000 miles if it matters. thanks in advance sorry if this sounds like a rant.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 35
From: Jupiter Fl
I think your looking in the right direction, replace the fuel pump relay, making sure the contacts are clean, Its also possible the fuel filter may be plugged and in need of a replacement. Good luck !!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
It sounds like you are onto something with the relay. It seems like the car's safety system (foot on brake for autos if the 2005 has it) is allowing the engine to start but it won't. I think the cranking would rule out pushing the clutch in all the way if it was a manual.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 233
From: "Nowhere Man"
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
thanks for the suggestions. friend of mine came over to check it while it wouldn't start and there was no fuel inthe fuel line while it was cranking. after giving the fuse box some love taps it turned on. i think maybe the fuel pump so i'm gonna be checking prices. but man this sucks for only having the car for three weeks.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,437
Likes: 4
From: Bucks Co. / outside Philadelphia PA
There was a thread about being able to swap fuel pump relays with another identical relay that ran something along the lines of headlights or something. It should be nearby in the fuse box. It could be an easy way to trouble shoot if its just a relay going.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
thanks for the suggestions. friend of mine came over to check it while it wouldn't start and there was no fuel inthe fuel line while it was cranking. after giving the fuse box some love taps it turned on. i think maybe the fuel pump so i'm gonna be checking prices. but man this sucks for only having the car for three weeks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
don't take this as criticism but before replacing relays, fuses, fuel pumps, etc., do you know what is wrong, or are you just throwing parts at it? I mean, fuses aren't expensive, but the rest might be, yes?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
yup i know it sounds dumb but i started off by buying a battery for the fob, then the gas cap (cuz it said "check gas cap") then the optima, then i switched the relay with another one that was for the parking lights and it still doing the same thing. it happened this morning. i hope it's the fuel pump cuz i haven't seen one less than $260 and hopefully that will be the last thing i have to put it for atleast a year or something other than maintenence.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 4
From: Massapequa NY
yup i know it sounds dumb but i started off by buying a battery for the fob, then the gas cap (cuz it said "check gas cap") then the optima, then i switched the relay with another one that was for the parking lights and it still doing the same thing. it happened this morning. i hope it's the fuel pump cuz i haven't seen one less than $260 and hopefully that will be the last thing i have to put it for atleast a year or something other than maintenence.
Good luck
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
well after ten days at the dealership the car finally duplicated the problem. it was running great for them until today. guy checked the fuel pressure with his gauge while it was cranking and it onlly had 20 psi. FYI a 2005 corvette ls2 needs 60 psi in order to start. so basically the car was just cranking until the fuel pump put out 60 pounds. the solution? a walbro pump for ls2 that costs $300 and $130 for labor. ( they must cut the exhaust and drop differential) if anyone else has this problem do not buy the OEM pump for $500. also do not buy the cheap aftermarket pumps from autozone or oriely's. they apparently suck worse. will update you guys after fuel pump install to make sure that problem is reselved. thanx again for the input.
