Topic: Engine won't turn over ???
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
OK, so last night i put a new battery in the monster.
I'm all excited to finally hear it roar in the car for the first time!!
Turned the key and ....NOTHING...NADA..
I do have headlights and tail lights and a couple of interior lights.
No dash lights, I will see if i grounded those out.
But I get nothing from the starter.
No clicks , no rrr rrr rr.
I believe all my wires are connected to the starter correctly.
I am guessing something is not grounded correctly????
I will be checking all grounds tonight when i get home from work.
Can it be something besides a ground?
ps: the engine ran great on the dyno.
it has not been run since them.
454 /4 speed
thanks
Joe
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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
MAJOR bummer, Joe!!!
Are you absotively certain the starter is wired correctly? The purple wire goes to the solenoid terminal closest to the engine block. I think I would first check that, and then jumper across the terminals to see if the starter will crank from underneath. If it does, then you'll need to back-trace the purple wire from the starter to the clutch/neutral safety switch, then to the ignition switch.
Are you absotively certain the starter is wired correctly? The purple wire goes to the solenoid terminal closest to the engine block. I think I would first check that, and then jumper across the terminals to see if the starter will crank from underneath. If it does, then you'll need to back-trace the purple wire from the starter to the clutch/neutral safety switch, then to the ignition switch.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
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macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
Joel,
i'm 99% sure its wired right.
i took a quick look at it last night and i think i remember the purple wire closest to the block.
i will check all wires to starter tonight along with jumping it.
i hope its something simple, and i'm sure it will be.
My neighbor will be helping , he has a meter so we will be checking with that also.
thanks,
Joe
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Put the volt meter on the purple wire, and see what it has with the key turned to "Start"...it should be battery voltage. Anything less may indicate a bad connection/ground. 0 volts indicates no power thru the ignition switch, thru the clutch/neutral safety switch, or a break in the wire somewheres.
Make sure the main ground from the chassis is bolted to the engine(pass side, by the mount). If this is loose, you would still have lights and such, but the starter would have no ground.
Make sure the main ground from the chassis is bolted to the engine(pass side, by the mount). If this is loose, you would still have lights and such, but the starter would have no ground.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Standard Member
Send PM
macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
Adams' Apple said: Put the volt meter on the purple wire, and see what it has with the key turned to "Start"...it should be battery voltage. Anything less may indicate a bad connection/ground. 0 volts indicates no power thru the ignition switch, thru the clutch/neutral safety switch, or a break in the wire somewheres.
Make sure the main ground from the chassis is bolted to the engine(pass side, by the mount). If this is loose, you would still have lights and such, but the starter would have no ground.
Joel,
Make sure the main ground from the chassis is bolted to the engine(pass side, by the mount). If this is loose, you would still have lights and such, but the starter would have no ground.
sounds like good advice.
will check those out.
FYI, I have a brand new wiring through out the car, so hopefully no breaks.
Joe
Standard Member
Send PM
macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
Can you say duh ? 
Ok, so, all looked good at the starter, but the meter said no power was getting to it, plus we tried to jump it across.
Now we start to look at the ignition switch on the column.
Guess what, there wasnt anything plugged into it !!!!!
I never plugged the 2 connectors that go to it.
So , I plugged them in, still nothing, so then i looked to see if i had a clutch /neutral safety switch.. Yup, I did. But the switch I have did not match the plug on the wiring harness, so I bypassed the switch.
WA LAH, it wanted to turn over!! It started to make clicking sounds at the starter but wouldnt turn over.
Sounds to me like it may not be properly grounded. So I had to stop working on it at that point anyway and Tomorrow I will go thru all the grounds to be sure I have good contact.
I have a question on some loose connectors i need to find a new home for, but that will be a new thread.
Joe
Ok, so, all looked good at the starter, but the meter said no power was getting to it, plus we tried to jump it across.
Now we start to look at the ignition switch on the column.
Guess what, there wasnt anything plugged into it !!!!!
I never plugged the 2 connectors that go to it.
So , I plugged them in, still nothing, so then i looked to see if i had a clutch /neutral safety switch.. Yup, I did. But the switch I have did not match the plug on the wiring harness, so I bypassed the switch.
WA LAH, it wanted to turn over!! It started to make clicking sounds at the starter but wouldnt turn over.
Sounds to me like it may not be properly grounded. So I had to stop working on it at that point anyway and Tomorrow I will go thru all the grounds to be sure I have good contact.
I have a question on some loose connectors i need to find a new home for, but that will be a new thread.
Joe
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
........ 
Can't say that's never happened to me, so.....
Keep us posted...a vid of the start-up wood be kewl, too.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Standard Member
Send PM
macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
Joel, i do plan on a video.
May try staring Friday nite if all goes quickly tonight.
Joe
Standard Member
Send PM
macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
OK, so last night i cleaned up the grounds.
Hooked up the battery, turned the key and still all i got was clicking noise.
I could hear the starter solienoid working . It did sound stronger than last time.
The starter did not turn. I turned the key about 4 5 times and then the solonoid just stopped working.
May be stuck?
I will try hitting the starter tonight while the key is turned. If that doesnt work
I think I am going to pull the starter off and have it checked. I bought it new from Advance Auto.
Any suggestions?
Help!!! I want to get this monster running.
Joe
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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