I have a C7, listening and curious as to what happened. Things just don't make sense. Now it's possible that you had a electronic failure and your car cut off and wouldn't start back up but I would NOT fault the starter. Your title says "Starter Failure" which by your story and issues sounds like it's not the starter but a computer or something along those lines.

I'm not a mechanic or a engineer but I would say a faulty starter would not have anything to do with a interruption of the circuit from the starter button to the fuse block. The starter has it's own completely separate circuit. A faulty start would just not allow the starter to turn over.

 

I too have a C7.....I just want to know how I "prepare" for this.....

 

 

I do have a C7 and in my experience if it is a 7 speed depress the clutch, on an automatic if the car shut off you can not put it in park. Either way the car will move. With power or not. If the starter locked up depress the clutch the car will move. There is different problem.
C5-JIM

 

I'll chime in on this one I guess, I normally just read...

I'm a lifelong mechanic, school trained and self taught, mostly GM products. It's just my hobby now though.

Here is my theory, GM products since the 60's or so, the battery goes straight to the starter and at the starter all the other electrical systems are powered by connecting to the main input to the starter by separate leads, 3 or so, engine, lighting, computer. each have a fusible link to prevent a wiring fire. Seems likely that the computer or engine fusible link burned due to a short which could be caused by a misrouted wire that vibrated on something and wore through. I will almost guarantee that is what happened.

When that happens there is no power to the start button or the rest of the car and hence not able to open the doors, etc. I also doubt the starter is damaged as it wasn't engaged while driving, probably the dealer over-reacted when estimating the damage.

 

I would also guess when he came to a stop he put it in park to start it and keep it from rolling and with no power you can not take it out of gear to tow it or roll it.

 

Well good news, I am an Engineer... and I agree with the bolded statement. The use of the word "Starter" seems to be an issue of confusion here. I read the first post and my mind went right to electronics, and issues past models (my C5 in particular) have had with the ignition switch. Now, while the C7 is not a turn-key car, the same signals still need to be sent one way or another. The OP's issue, by his description, is identical to one I and other C5 owners have experienced. I cleaned the ignition switch contacts and haven't had a related issue since.

The following is an educated guess:
In at least the past three Gen's, the Accessory power was also in that ignition circuit (it needs to be cut when starting to give all juice to the starter motor). This could be a security feature locking the wheels. No ACC = no fob recognition.... no fob = no shift to neutral

 

In a scenario such as this where somehow the power goes dead and in a vehicle like the Corvette, (even in a C6 where the manual door release is in the trunk,) how would the driver get out? The pilot in me would like to know just in case.

 

Manual pull handle between the outside edge of seat bottom and the door sill.

 

There is a lever by the seat in the Corvette. Lift it. Door opens. It's in the manual.

 

Thanks! The last one I've driven was my Dad's 2003 Z06. Hoping to pull the trigger on a new one by the end of this month!

 

The release in the trunk is if you are locked out of your car due to an electrical issue. The key lets you get in from the outside using the release you refer to.

Have a great time with your C6 when you get it. Read the manual for sure. It has a ton of great info that you will find useful, or search this forum. There is a wealth of knowledge on here.

 

Have mention on the c6 forum. When a pin broke in my transmission selector area.
The selector just moved back and forth freely engaging nothing. What was strange
all lights came on dash, headlights, switch did nothing. Door opened but for
some reason would not relatch. It would start. It broke 3 times. Luckily each time,
the tow guy could latch onto the rear and pull up onto the truck without the
rear touching the ground. Things were affected that would seem to have no
connection to a transmission.

The third time, tow guy put it on the truck and left it idling. Put duck
tape on the doors off he went for the 75 mile trip to the dealer. Was told by a
friend this was illegal. I don't know. So on today cars who know what will happen
and what will be affected. Guess the car must have broke in a setting
which did not move when started ????? but rolled by front wheels when lifted.

After 3rd don't what they did but you don't feel a release anymore, more of a grind.
Tech said to just jiggle it and move it slowly to R D etc. I think they rerouted
around the pin or something. Still working. Probably not as gm intended but working.

 

I don't have a C7. What I do have is knowledge of automobiles and years of experience from when I was a tech. I will say it again, the starter alone would not cause the situation you described.

 

Owning or not owning a C7 is completely irrelevant.


You advised everyone to replace their starter on a brand new car. That's plain stupid.

A starter failing will not cause the car to shutdown and lock up.

 

Agreed. Pull the lever by the seat to open door and get out to meet the tow truck driver. Release hand brake, push in the clutch and put car in neutral - stick in center position. If vehicle was delivered with automatic transmission, take it back to local dealer and ask to trade for 7MT.

 

Most likely because the guy posted about his issue and several people either outright called him a liar or suggested his post might be a lie. Several people questionied that the car actually be allowed to stay on the road for 90 minutes. Others, including you, questioned his post in a manner that suggests it is not credible. That probably made him over defensive.

I do agree it is silly to suggest everyone replace their starter unless he has some credible evidence (and I doubt he does) on there being a an issue with the starters in general and that there is a fixed version which could be used as a replacement.

I also think that other questions to him are appropriate. Was it a automatic car (I would guess so since he said he couldn't get into neutral)? Did the mechanic say why the starter would cause this issue? It doesn't seem intuitive that a starter could cause this issue, but maybe there is something about this car's design that makes that possible. It would be great to have more technical details. It sounded like the OP was justifiably upset with this issue but also wanted to warn other owners. More technical details would be helpful to others.

The most concerning thing to me about this is that the car got into a state where it could not be put in neutral. That should not happen. Maybe modern automatics have been over designed to a point where that is possible (I know little about autos because I have always owned manuals) if this is an automatic.

 

Will really be interesting to hear just what the final diagnosis is on the car.

 

This is the dumbest thread....lol....wtf....

 

I had the same thing happen to me in my 86 pace car convert, the starter suddenly went to a dead short and you loose all electric power to everything in the car almost instantly. You do not have to be engaging the starter for this to happen.

Had to be towed, starter was replaced and that was it, never happened again.