HELP!!! Vette won't start
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
HELP!!! Vette won't start
I have a 2005 Z51 M6 and well she won't start.
I checked the fuses under the hood and under the passenger footwell, everything checks out ok. I have a feeling it may be the clutch depression sensor that the clutch pedal pushes against has finally gone out. Does anyone know how to check that and see if it's working? The battery right now is sitting at 11.8 volts as well (and I even tried to jump it just to be sure, and that won't work). Accessory mode and all the electronics in the car come on fine, but she won't start. Not even a hint of trying to turn over.
Thanks in advance for all the help!
I checked the fuses under the hood and under the passenger footwell, everything checks out ok. I have a feeling it may be the clutch depression sensor that the clutch pedal pushes against has finally gone out. Does anyone know how to check that and see if it's working? The battery right now is sitting at 11.8 volts as well (and I even tried to jump it just to be sure, and that won't work). Accessory mode and all the electronics in the car come on fine, but she won't start. Not even a hint of trying to turn over. Thanks in advance for all the help!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 16
From: Amityville New York
I believe it could be the starter or the wire around the starter. But, then again, what do I know about cars?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
The car is a bone stock 05 that I bought new. I will check in the right wheel well for the grounding wire. I have a set of maintenance manuals and will look in there tomorrow to see if they can be any help as well.
I'm really hoping it's something more simple than the starter, that would be a pain in the a$$ to fix. It seems a bit premature for it to go out so soon.
I'm really hoping it's something more simple than the starter, that would be a pain in the a$$ to fix. It seems a bit premature for it to go out so soon.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
Would it matter if when I tried to jump the car, the voltmeter was showing 13.8 volts (ie running off of my truck's alternator?) Is that any indication if the battery is good or not? So it read 11.8 volts on its own in acc mode and even when I attempted to start, then 13.8 with the jumper cables connected from my truck.
Hmmm.... I'm still baffled.
Hmmm.... I'm still baffled.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Would it matter if when I tried to jump the car, the voltmeter was showing 13.8 volts (ie running off of my truck's alternator?) Is that any indication if the battery is good or not? So it read 11.8 volts on its own in acc mode and even when I attempted to start, then 13.8 with the jumper cables connected from my truck.
Hmmm.... I'm still baffled.
Hmmm.... I'm still baffled.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 16
From: Amityville New York
The car is a bone stock 05 that I bought new. I will check in the right wheel well for the grounding wire. I have a set of maintenance manuals and will look in there tomorrow to see if they can be any help as well.
I'm really hoping it's something more simple than the starter, that would be a pain in the a$$ to fix. It seems a bit premature for it to go out so soon.
I'm really hoping it's something more simple than the starter, that would be a pain in the a$$ to fix. It seems a bit premature for it to go out so soon.
I am not saying its your starter, but if the battery checked out good then your next step is the starter.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
Does anyone happen to know about the clutch switch that the clutch pedal depresses against?
All the electronics in the car work 4.0 in acc mode or when attempting to crank the car (radio, HUD, nav, headlights, lamps, etc) just no vroom when I push the start button. Is there any way to test and see if it is that particular switch?
I still haven't taken the battery in yet. (been doing valentine's day with the fiance'
)
Do starters usually just fail outright, or is there ever warning signs that it is about to go? Contrary to my ramblings here, I'm pretty mechanically handy, I'm just not a particularly good troubleshooter. That's a skill I'm still working on.
All the electronics in the car work 4.0 in acc mode or when attempting to crank the car (radio, HUD, nav, headlights, lamps, etc) just no vroom when I push the start button. Is there any way to test and see if it is that particular switch?
I still haven't taken the battery in yet. (been doing valentine's day with the fiance'
)Do starters usually just fail outright, or is there ever warning signs that it is about to go? Contrary to my ramblings here, I'm pretty mechanically handy, I'm just not a particularly good troubleshooter. That's a skill I'm still working on.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 266
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
The clutch switches do sometimes go bad. My friend Jschillit here on the board had that trouble. I haven't looked at mine, but my guess is you can unhook the connector and put a jumper wire between the two wires (assuming there are two) to simulate the switch being depressed and try starting it.
You might also try unhooking the battery for a while...to let the car "reboot". Sounds silly, but I recall stories of that working to fix problems.
Both of these are free, and pretty easy to try.
Keep us posted.
You might also try unhooking the battery for a while...to let the car "reboot". Sounds silly, but I recall stories of that working to fix problems.
Both of these are free, and pretty easy to try.
Keep us posted.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
The clutch switches do sometimes go bad. My friend Jschillit here on the board had that trouble. I haven't looked at mine, but my guess is you can unhook the connector and put a jumper wire between the two wires (assuming there are two) to simulate the switch being depressed and try starting it.
You might also try unhooking the battery for a while...to let the car "reboot". Sounds silly, but I recall stories of that working to fix problems.
Both of these are free, and pretty easy to try.
Keep us posted.
You might also try unhooking the battery for a while...to let the car "reboot". Sounds silly, but I recall stories of that working to fix problems.
Both of these are free, and pretty easy to try.
Keep us posted.
Hopefully this is not an indicator of something potentially going bad. Anyone know the life of the clutch position start switch? (that's what the service manual calls it) Again mine is a bone stock 05 with 66k on her. Mine since new.
The starter sounded strong when she started up, no whine or weak sounding turn over.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 266
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Joe G, you are a brilliant man!!! I disconnected the battery and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Reconnected it and viola!! She's running right now. Thank you sir for that simple yet ingenious fix. I knew I had to be overthinking it!
Hopefully this is not an indicator of something potentially going bad. Anyone know the life of the clutch position start switch? (that's what the service manual calls it) Again mine is a bone stock 05 with 66k on her. Mine since new.
The starter sounded strong when she started up, no whine or weak sounding turn over.
Hopefully this is not an indicator of something potentially going bad. Anyone know the life of the clutch position start switch? (that's what the service manual calls it) Again mine is a bone stock 05 with 66k on her. Mine since new.
The starter sounded strong when she started up, no whine or weak sounding turn over.
The clutch switch should last the life of the car.
After sitting 2 months, things can go wonky. After sitting a couple of weeks recently my car appeared to be dead, no fobs worked, etc. I used the key to open the trunk and the door, and viola, things reset themselves and all was fine.
Even a Mac needs a reboot once in a while, so does your car!
Glad that worked out. I'd stop worrying and enjoy the ride.
