Starting issues!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 4
Starting issues!
Very odd symptoms:
1. Car wouldn't start this morning. Everything seems strong in the car in terms of the lights that go on and the noises. But when I try to start it everything just clicks off. Battery tested at 12.4 volts.
2. I eventually got it to start. I was on a slight incline so I let the car roll forward a bit while engaging and disengaging the clutch then stopped. Tried to start and it started right up.
3. While it was started the dash battery gauge read 11.5 which is below standard charging. "service charging system" came on. Turned it off.
4. Went out about an hour later and it started right up. The battery indicator was over 13 (or normal).
5. Ran some errands. Sometimes it would start right up and register good charge, sometimes I had to roll it a little, stop and then try to get it to start and it would register low charge while driving.
Is this odd?
2007 Base 6.0 Manual.
1. Car wouldn't start this morning. Everything seems strong in the car in terms of the lights that go on and the noises. But when I try to start it everything just clicks off. Battery tested at 12.4 volts.
2. I eventually got it to start. I was on a slight incline so I let the car roll forward a bit while engaging and disengaging the clutch then stopped. Tried to start and it started right up.
3. While it was started the dash battery gauge read 11.5 which is below standard charging. "service charging system" came on. Turned it off.
4. Went out about an hour later and it started right up. The battery indicator was over 13 (or normal).
5. Ran some errands. Sometimes it would start right up and register good charge, sometimes I had to roll it a little, stop and then try to get it to start and it would register low charge while driving.
Is this odd?
2007 Base 6.0 Manual.
Last edited by kilkenny; Sep 22, 2015 at 04:02 PM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 33
From: Southern cali
ok .. when your corvette is running, 13.5 to 14.1 is normal ....
so if you continue to have issues, this is what you should check :
1) get your battery load tested --- most auto parts store will do it for free... I know you said it is a year old, but that doesn't mean you don't have a bad battery/cell.
2) if battery checks out, check your cables to the battery, your alternator and finally the solenoid.... don't just visually inspect them .. disconnect them and clean them with battery or electrical cleaner.
3) inspect your solenoid --- do more than just look at it .. get under the car and wiggle the post that the cable connects to... if it has any play, it is bad and the solenoid needs to be replaced.
4) have your alternator tested for how many amps it is putting out. I have seen more than one alternator go bad on the C6 corvette.
hope this helps !
so if you continue to have issues, this is what you should check :
1) get your battery load tested --- most auto parts store will do it for free... I know you said it is a year old, but that doesn't mean you don't have a bad battery/cell.
2) if battery checks out, check your cables to the battery, your alternator and finally the solenoid.... don't just visually inspect them .. disconnect them and clean them with battery or electrical cleaner.
3) inspect your solenoid --- do more than just look at it .. get under the car and wiggle the post that the cable connects to... if it has any play, it is bad and the solenoid needs to be replaced.
4) have your alternator tested for how many amps it is putting out. I have seen more than one alternator go bad on the C6 corvette.
hope this helps !
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 4
Drove it all day yesterday no problem until my last drive. Had the same starting issue. So I pushed the clutch in let it roll a little then engaged it. Pushed the clutch back in and started it. Fired right up.
Is there a clutch sensor that might be causing this?
Is there a clutch sensor that might be causing this?
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,521
Likes: 881
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Very odd symptoms:
1. Car wouldn't start this morning. Everything seems strong in the car in terms of the lights that go on and the noises. But when I try to start it everything just clicks off. Battery tested at 12.4 volts.
2. I eventually got it to start. I was on a slight incline so I let the car roll forward a bit while engaging and disengaging the clutch then stopped. Tried to start and it started right up.
3. While it was started the dash battery gauge read 11.5 which is below standard charging. "service charging system" came on. Turned it off.
4. Went out about an hour later and it started right up. The battery indicator was over 13 (or normal).
5. Ran some errands. Sometimes it would start right up and register good charge, sometimes I had to roll it a little, stop and then try to get it to start and it would register low charge while driving.
Is this odd?
2007 Base 6.0 Manual.
1. Car wouldn't start this morning. Everything seems strong in the car in terms of the lights that go on and the noises. But when I try to start it everything just clicks off. Battery tested at 12.4 volts.
2. I eventually got it to start. I was on a slight incline so I let the car roll forward a bit while engaging and disengaging the clutch then stopped. Tried to start and it started right up.
3. While it was started the dash battery gauge read 11.5 which is below standard charging. "service charging system" came on. Turned it off.
4. Went out about an hour later and it started right up. The battery indicator was over 13 (or normal).
5. Ran some errands. Sometimes it would start right up and register good charge, sometimes I had to roll it a little, stop and then try to get it to start and it would register low charge while driving.
Is this odd?
2007 Base 6.0 Manual.
1) The main connector to the solenoid may have broken internally. I have two extra starters at home where the post will wiggle back and forth quite a bit with almost no effort. I also had this happen to my race car where what would happen is the car would start fine and then a few seconds later (while it was running) show the service charging system message as well as low voltage on the DIC. Oddly enough, it went away while I was doing my burnout because the movement of the car was just enough to help it make a better contact. In your case the same result was achieved by rolling the car and engaging the clutch briefly.
2) The main lead going to the solenoid may either be loose or even broken which also happened to me.
If a battery or alternator is bad it generally stays that way and can't cause your voltage to go from bad to good and then back to bad again. A loose or broken wire or solenoid connection however will.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 315
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
There's a few different possible causes:
1) The main connector to the solenoid may have broken internally. I have two extra starters at home where the post will wiggle back and forth quite a bit with almost no effort. I also had this happen to my race car where what would happen is the car would start fine and then a few seconds later (while it was running) show the service charging system message as well as low voltage on the DIC. Oddly enough, it went away while I was doing my burnout because the movement of the car was just enough to help it make a better contact. In your case the same result was achieved by rolling the car and engaging the clutch briefly.
2) The main lead going to the solenoid may either be loose or even broken which also happened to me.
If a battery or alternator is bad it generally stays that way and can't cause your voltage to go from bad to good and then back to bad again. A loose or broken wire or solenoid connection however will.
1) The main connector to the solenoid may have broken internally. I have two extra starters at home where the post will wiggle back and forth quite a bit with almost no effort. I also had this happen to my race car where what would happen is the car would start fine and then a few seconds later (while it was running) show the service charging system message as well as low voltage on the DIC. Oddly enough, it went away while I was doing my burnout because the movement of the car was just enough to help it make a better contact. In your case the same result was achieved by rolling the car and engaging the clutch briefly.
2) The main lead going to the solenoid may either be loose or even broken which also happened to me.
If a battery or alternator is bad it generally stays that way and can't cause your voltage to go from bad to good and then back to bad again. A loose or broken wire or solenoid connection however will.
Letting the car roll and lifting the clutch will definitely move that connection on the starter solenoid.
I'd be checking that first.
GL
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 33
From: Southern cali
if it is determined to be your solenoid ( which I am leaning towards ) ... the solenoid is a $20 fix ... if you take it to a starter shop. If you go to the dealer, they will try to sell you the entire starter unit... about $400.
If you do this repair it is really easy --- the hardest aspect is that you must disconnect the catalytic converter so you can have enough room to drop the starter. otherwise it is 4 bolts and a couple of wires.
A side note if you swap out the solenoid -- some owners have complained about the plug style design used in the C6 ( heat sensitivity and loss of connection ) --- as opposed to the more reliable post style used in the C5 ... I have used the C5 post stylewith a slight modification in the C6 with absolutely no issues.
If you do this repair it is really easy --- the hardest aspect is that you must disconnect the catalytic converter so you can have enough room to drop the starter. otherwise it is 4 bolts and a couple of wires.
A side note if you swap out the solenoid -- some owners have complained about the plug style design used in the C6 ( heat sensitivity and loss of connection ) --- as opposed to the more reliable post style used in the C5 ... I have used the C5 post stylewith a slight modification in the C6 with absolutely no issues.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 315
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,023
Likes: 1,645
From: Toronto, Canada
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
yes, it is odd
Very odd symptoms:
1. Car wouldn't start this morning. Everything seems strong in the car in terms of the lights that go on and the noises. But when I try to start it everything just clicks off. Battery tested at 12.4 volts.
2. I eventually got it to start. I was on a slight incline so I let the car roll forward a bit while engaging and disengaging the clutch then stopped. Tried to start and it started right up.
3. While it was started the dash battery gauge read 11.5 which is below standard charging. "service charging system" came on. Turned it off.
4. Went out about an hour later and it started right up. The battery indicator was over 13 (or normal).
5. Ran some errands. Sometimes it would start right up and register good charge, sometimes I had to roll it a little, stop and then try to get it to start and it would register low charge while driving.
Is this odd?
2007 Base 6.0 Manual.
1. Car wouldn't start this morning. Everything seems strong in the car in terms of the lights that go on and the noises. But when I try to start it everything just clicks off. Battery tested at 12.4 volts.
2. I eventually got it to start. I was on a slight incline so I let the car roll forward a bit while engaging and disengaging the clutch then stopped. Tried to start and it started right up.
3. While it was started the dash battery gauge read 11.5 which is below standard charging. "service charging system" came on. Turned it off.
4. Went out about an hour later and it started right up. The battery indicator was over 13 (or normal).
5. Ran some errands. Sometimes it would start right up and register good charge, sometimes I had to roll it a little, stop and then try to get it to start and it would register low charge while driving.
Is this odd?
2007 Base 6.0 Manual.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 33
From: Southern cali
that is the root of all your starting issues as I suspected. Now you can either have the C6 version installed with the plug .. or put in the one used in the C5 with a slight modification
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 4
Thanks to all of you for helping track this down. Ended up spending $40 for a new solenoid at a local shop I found. Brought the starter in and he replaced the solenoid.
Installed this afternoon and started right up. Let's hope that's the end of the story.
Installed this afternoon and started right up. Let's hope that's the end of the story.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,521
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2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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2019 C6 of Year Winner (track prepared)
Glad to hear you got it fixed.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 33
From: Southern cali
I am willing to bet it was your problem.. and if you want to feel really good about your repair, talk to a service advisor at your local chevy dealership how much they charge to do this repair -- hint : over $500