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Topic: Car Won't Start

in Forum: C4 Electrical


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Car Won't Start (1/22)
 4/8/12 10:14pm
TEN A C
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Posts: 34

My 85 Vette will not start.  A few weeks ago I came out to start it and the battery was dead.  We jumped the battery and everything was fine.  I tried to start it yesterday and again the battery was dead.  I tried to jump it, no success.  I called AAA and they came to jump start it.  NO success.  The posts on the battery were corroded so the guy suggested changing them.  I changed the battery posts and AAA came back out.  He tried using his truck and the portable charger and it still wouldn't start.
 
The lights did come on but when I turned the key I just heard a clicking sound under the hood.  The lights and radio worked but it wouldn't turn over, just the clicking sound under the hood.  I had the hood up when I was trying to crank it so I'm sure the clicking sound was there.
 
Any ideas what the problem could be?  The 2nd AAA guy thought it was the starter.
 
Thanks for your help.
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Re: Car Won't Start (2/22)
 4/9/12 12:15am
davep85c4
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Is it multiple clicks like a buzzer, or a single click? Do the lights stay on when it 'clicks'? Or does everything go out, then come back on after releasing the key from Start?

If it's a buzzer-like click, it is most likely not the starter. But still a corroded cable connection, or cable.

If a single click, and all the lights stay on, this may be a starter, or the solenoid on the starter.  Starters last a long time. Usually long beyond 100K miles, so if it's less than that, be double-sure it really is the starter itself.

Sometimes corrosion works its way down into the cable below the battery connection. Close inspection may reveal that the insulation is bulged for a few inches below the 'eye' of the connector. Working the cable while 'feeling' the bulge with the other hand, may detect a 'mushiness' of the underlying conductor. I've had several side-terminal battery cables that had this bulge, and when cut open the conductor was nothing but green dust. The bulge and mushy feeling when flexing the cable are the clues.

Because the main cable is to the starter, and the little wires are for everything else, the rest of the car may seem normal, but only the starter doesn't crank. Checking the voltage reading at the big terminal at the starter while in Start position will reveal if it's a voltage supply problem, or the starter itself.

There's some ideas.
Dave
Re: Car Won't Start (3/22)
 4/9/12 6:48pm
TEN A C
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Thank you for the information.  I will go and check it out
Re: Car Won't Start (4/22)
 4/9/12 8:50pm
TEN A C
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Well, I cleaned the corrossion off of the cable connections.  The cables themselves are solid.  After cleaning the cable connections and trying to jump it again, the clicking sound went away.  It just sounded like it didn't want to start this time.
 
The lights did come on and I tried to jump start it with the lights on.  The lights did stay on.  I got in the car and went I tried to start it, I could hear noise, I guess a clicking sound, from under the dashpad on the passengers side. It wasn't a rapid fire sound though. Single clicking sound...click...click....click..
 
I'm not a mechanic and I don't have tools to check the battery power.  The AAA guy did tell me the battery was fine.  Looks like I might have to have it towed to the shop.   Cry
Re: Car Won't Start (5/22)
 4/9/12 10:40pm
Trooper
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Hermitage, TN - USA

Vette(s):
1990 C-4 Coupe Polo Green Saddle Interior L-98


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Ten A C,
I had the same problem for awhile and it came and went at first then it just stayed, I finally gave in and took it to the Chevy Dealership where they told me the starter wiring was my problem. It seems the wiring around the starter gets really hot and wears much faster than at any other point. My heat shield was still in place but the wiring was shot. After they replaced the wiring, I havent had that problem anymore. It's worth a look.


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Re: Car Won't Start (6/22)
 4/10/12 9:00am
TEN A C
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Thank you.  I will have the mechanic take a look at the wires.
Re: Car Won't Start (7/22)
 4/10/12 1:08pm
davep85c4
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TEN A C said:
I got in the car and went I tried to start it, I could hear noise, I guess a clicking sound, from under the dashpad on the passengers side. It wasn't a rapid fire sound though. Single clicking sound...click...click....click..
 


If the Security System is activated, the starter-interrupt relay will cycle when the key is turned to START. This would be a single click when turned to START, and again when released.  In an 85, this relay is located behind the radio.

Does your factory alarm function correctly?

And to use proper semantics, your problem is a "no crank", not a "no start" condition. There's a difference in the diagnostic approach.

Re: Car Won't Start (8/22)
 4/10/12 1:52pm
Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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1985 Coupe-L98/Auto,Bright Red/Carmine. 1974 Coupe-L48/4speed, Medium Red Metallic/Black Deluxe.


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I'll bet it is a starter, or cable problem. The anti-theft system would flash the "Security" light if that was causing the no crank issue. Dead battery-jump start-dead battery again...I'd be looking at the wiring around the starter, as has already been suggested. Doesn't take much corrosion, or looseness in the connections to cause this.
Good luck, and let us know what you/they find.


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Re: Car Won't Crank (9/22)
 4/10/12 2:24pm
TEN A C
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Thanks.  I'm not aware that my car has an alarm system.  I've never seen any lights indicating such.  How would I know if it does have an alarm system?  The previous owner never mentioned it.
Re: Car Won't Start (10/22)
 4/11/12 11:08am
djsroknrol
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Guthrie, OK - USA

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Before you do the starter, try locking the doors and unlocking them....my first day I tripped the anti-thieft device and got the same clicking which turned out to be the horn relay...I had the horns disconnected so the horns never went off....might save you a few bucks.....

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Re: Car Won't Crank (11/22)
 4/11/12 1:11pm
Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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TEN A C said: Thanks.  I'm not aware that my car has an alarm system.  I've never seen any lights indicating such.  How would I know if it does have an alarm system?  The previous owner never mentioned it.


The anti-theft system was standard on all C4s. There are different versions in some years, but all had one or the other , or a combination of systems.
When you first open the door, you should see a "Security" lamp come on in the DIC(driver information center). If you do not see the "Security" light up, you may have a problem with the system, or possibly just a blown fuse. Check ALL of the fuses(passenger side dash).


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Re: Car Won't Start (12/22)
 4/11/12 9:35pm
frank atkinson
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bryant, AR - USA

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i went to have the oil changed  and they accidently turned on my alarm system when i tried to start the motor it  would act like the battery was dead  
Re: Car Won't Start (13/22)
 4/12/12 6:19am
CaledoniaBrian
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frank atkinson said: i went to have the oil changed  and they accidently turned on my alarm system when i tried to start the motor it  would act like the battery was dead  


OK.. so the Alarm was turned on..... how do you turn it off ?
 Not to sure about this whole alarm system, but inquiry minds would like to know, just for future reffernce...... ?????
 
 


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Re: Car Won't Start (14/22)
 4/12/12 10:53am
Trooper
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Hermitage, TN - USA

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CaledoniaBrian said:
frank atkinson said: i went to have the oil changed  and they accidently turned on my alarm system when i tried to start the motor it  would act like the battery was dead  


OK.. so the Alarm was turned on..... how do you turn it off ?
 Not to sure about this whole alarm system, but inquiry minds would like to know, just for future reffernce...... ?????
 
 


With mine all you do is unlock the door with the key.....

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Re: Car Won't Start (15/22)
 4/12/12 10:59am
themailman
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Pickens, SC - USA

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I had a bad soleniod on mine...was doing the SAME thing. If you bench-test the starter, you can bypass it by putting 12v directly. I dissassembled the soleniod and was able to get the burnt/carboned copper disc inside it to turn 180' to a virgin contact area where it then worked fine.
A word of caution: DON'T buy the cheapest  replacement staters from Auto Zone or Advanced Auto EVEN THOUGH they have a "life-time"warrantee. ($95.) They are re-manufactured in China and are actually a smaller scaled version of the original with cheap fastners.
I went with a more expensive($135.) BOSCH rebiult that comes with a free towing agreement for 2 years IF the car fails to start again because of it. Just my $.02
Re: Car Won't Start (16/22)
 4/13/12 4:35pm
Judge Roy Bean
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Bandera, TX - USA

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one ea. 1996 LT1, red on gray interior, stroker 383 Dart heads w/ 2.02"int,1.60exeh 11.8:1, Comp Cam 230/236@50 .570/.576 113LSA , Crane 1.6:1`rocker arms, GM Delphi roller lifters HiFlo Cats, Xpipe and low restriction muffles, it sounds lumpy at idle!!!


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Two days ago I had the same problem with my 96 which has a resistor key. The wires from the lock to the bottom of the steering wheel are small white w/bk tr. and bk w/wt tracer. You will find a two pole connector. With the key in the lock, check the resistance from wire to wire toward the key, you should get the same as across the key. The quick and dirty fix is to build a resister loop equal to the key and plug it into the wires going down to the anti theft relay. The whatchmacallit loop  balances the thingamajig in the anti theft relay and you get power to the start relay! or you can take your steering claim apart. JRB
Re: Car Won't Start (17/22)
 4/13/12 4:56pm
Judge Roy Bean
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Bandera, TX - USA

Vette(s):
one ea. 1996 LT1, red on gray interior, stroker 383 Dart heads w/ 2.02"int,1.60exeh 11.8:1, Comp Cam 230/236@50 .570/.576 113LSA , Crane 1.6:1`rocker arms, GM Delphi roller lifters HiFlo Cats, Xpipe and low restriction muffles, it sounds lumpy at idle!!!


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I only know about the 96, however if you have a factory alarm system you can check by opening a window, lock the Corvette, then reach inside and unlock the door without using a key. If the horn sounds???? If the horn sounds, use your key in the starter. there is a switch in the door lock too. and where is your owner's manual?
Re: Car Won't Start (18/22)
 4/13/12 7:10pm
TEN A C
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Thank you everyone for your responses.  Ya'll are talking way over my head.  I haven't had the opportunity to take it to the mechanic yet.  When I do, I will mention everything that everyone has recommended.
 
Thanks again.
Re: Car Won't Start (19/22)
 4/15/12 7:57am
eddie20890
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lanoka harbor, NJ - USA

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1990 L-98 white/ red/black leather interior targa top auto 1975 L48 blue/black leather interior t tops auto


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TEN A C said: Thank you everyone for your responses.  Ya'll are talking way over my head.  I haven't had the opportunity to take it to the mechanic yet.  When I do, I will mention everything that everyone has recommended.
 
Thanks again.
 hope your mechanic is honest. if you tell him everything that was mentioned here he may charge you for checking them all when he might have known what was wrong to begin with. IMHO...if he is good and you trust him just tell him it wont start and let him diagnose it. if he starts having a hard time then i would mention some of the suggestions here.  there are a lot of mechanics who know the trouble spots to check.




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Re: Car Won't Start (20/22)
 4/15/12 12:26pm
Wall-e 1986
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Rochester, NY - USA

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I had the same problem with my 86. It was the starter & the flywheel. It was missing teeth and starter wouldn't engage to start the car.

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Re: Car Won't Start (21/22)
 4/16/12 6:17pm
Trooper
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Wall-e 1986 said: I had the same problem with my 86. It was the starter & the flywheel. It was missing teeth and starter wouldn't engage to start the car.

Wouldn't you hear the starter spinning instead of a clicking noise if that were the problem?

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Re: Car Won't Start (22/22)
 4/25/12 6:54pm
Wall-e 1986
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No. Didn't make any noise !! It took a dealer to figure it out.


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