C8 wouldn't start????
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 7
C8 wouldn't start????
Went to start me C8 and it just cranked and cranked but would not turn over. Ran OnStar diagnostics and all systems green with no error codes. Lights and dashboard had remained on so it appeared the car thought it was still on although the engine had shut off.
I disconnected the battery and waited a few minutes. Reconnected and it started right up. Plenty of gas, plenty of juice. For some reason, when I stopped it the last time the engine cut off but the car thought it was still on. Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery put it back in synch. All appears to well again. Anyone else have this issue?
I disconnected the battery and waited a few minutes. Reconnected and it started right up. Plenty of gas, plenty of juice. For some reason, when I stopped it the last time the engine cut off but the car thought it was still on. Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery put it back in synch. All appears to well again. Anyone else have this issue?
Popular Reply
Oct 27, 2020, 09:40 PM
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,048
Likes: 69
From: This city NEVER sleeps! Frank's back yard!
Cranking = turning over. 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
Several people have mentioned the car cranking over but not starting, but then starting after subsequent attempts. One person had it start after pushing down on the frunk lid but that probably was just a coincidence.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,185
From: Central Illinois
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 60
Likes: 40
Curious- when you disconnected the battery and then hooked back up, do all the settings you had made, e.g. entertainment settings, dash preferences etc., go back to defaults or did they come back where you had them?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 343
From: Glastonbury CT
If it does a no start and it happens more than once document the time the day and start the paper work on the lemon law. Also report the issue to the DOT so we have a feel how many people are having the same problem. Also have a charger on your battery if and when in storage or just garaged.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
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
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,510
Likes: 2,400
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
That was my friend's car and it did it again after the dealer scratched their head and couldn't find anything. Same result after a few days from the dealer messing with it - pushed down on the frunk lid and it started. I'm thinking a defect in the latch not sending a signal needed to start. It goes back to the dealer again.
Last edited by Tally Ho; Oct 28, 2020 at 01:40 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
That was my friend's car and it did it again after the dealer scratched their head and couldn't find anything. Same result - pushed down on the frunk lid and it started. I'm thinking a defect in the latch not sending a signal needed to start. It goes back to the dealer again.
I would expect the same results if it is a bad sensor.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,510
Likes: 2,400
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Turns over but no start. No indications.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 22
Likes: 22
No start
I had this same issue with my 2020 C8. shut car off with no issues. Minutes later it cranked but would not fire, Some of the times I tried to start car the starter would continue to crank after letting go of the start button. When the tow truck arrived about 1.5 hours later I tried to see if I could maybe get the car out of park it started. I drove straight to the dealership without turning vehicle off. The dealership had the car 3 days and could not replicate the issue so nothing was done. I'm frustrated of course.
One thing did happen though. The next time I was ready to drive it the car would not respond the key fob start. I got in the car with the key fob but it still would not start. after many attempts a message appeared on the dash to put the key fob in the cup holder so it could transmit a signal. I did so and the car started. Now it starts with the key fob again without being in the car..
One thing did happen though. The next time I was ready to drive it the car would not respond the key fob start. I got in the car with the key fob but it still would not start. after many attempts a message appeared on the dash to put the key fob in the cup holder so it could transmit a signal. I did so and the car started. Now it starts with the key fob again without being in the car..
