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Topic: intermittent starting

in Forum: C3 Electrical

intermittent starting

Posted: 6/27/10 7:18pm Message 1 of 16
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Florence, KY - USA
Joined: 9/9/2007
Posts: 143
Vette(s): 1977 Coupe; yellow, 4 speed, one option car with original engine
Hope I spelled that correctly....
A couple of weeks ago the car would not start, then no issues for 8-10 starts, then again it would not start. (Horn works, lights, work, interior lighting, etc. all seem fine) I checked and tightened both battery terminals, checked the battery ground to the frame, (was tight), then the starter hot lead and the engine block to the frame were tightened. Today, 5-6 statrs, then it would not start; 2 hours later started fine.
Should I recheck the grounds, this time including the engine block?
Thanks



current
1977 Coupe
 
gone but not forgotten
1996 Grand Sport
1984 coupe 
1974 coupe
1964 roadster

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intermittent starting

Posted: 6/27/10 8:53pm Message 2 of 16
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Did you clean the connections at the battery terminals? Sometimes all looks fine but a corrosive layer between the posts and the cable ends could cause something like this.

Give it a try and let us know what happens. Wink



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intermittent starting

Posted: 6/28/10 5:16am Message 3 of 16
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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
More info preeeze!!
"No start", as in it would not turn over, or as in it turns over, but does not fire off?
If it is the no turn over, my money is on the starter solenoid. The contact inside of the solenoid for the battery cable(main power) will burn out over time, and cause an intermittent no crank issue. Sometimes you can dis-assemble the solenoid, and loosen the nut that holds the contact bolt in. From there, you can simply turn the bolt 180deg. and reassemble. This gives the solenoid a new contact spot , and they'll work fine...assuming that is the problem to start with.
Or...you could just replace the solenoid, and be dome with it.



Joel Adams
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intermittent starting

Posted: 6/28/10 9:03am Message 4 of 16
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
Joel is right, and solenoid problems often temporarily go away after cooling off for a while, which reinforces what he said.

Larry



intermittent starting

Posted: 6/28/10 9:05pm Message 5 of 16
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Florence, KY - USA
Joined: 9/9/2007
Posts: 143
Vette(s): 1977 Coupe; yellow, 4 speed, one option car with original engine
By intermittent I meant the engine will not turn over.... I will remove and clean the terminals as suggested, (but they did look clean), but I'm betting on the solenoid as I hadn't thought of that.
You guy's rock! Thanks again for keepin' me on the road.



current
1977 Coupe
 
gone but not forgotten
1996 Grand Sport
1984 coupe 
1974 coupe
1964 roadster

intermittent starting

Posted: 6/29/10 10:12am Message 6 of 16
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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
You can turn the bolt I'm talking about without actually dis-assembling the solenoid. My previous post suggested that, it appears.
With the starter off, look at the center, large stud that the battery cable connects to. Loosen the nut that is on there(usually a 5/8"). With the nut backed off, you can push the stud into the solenoid a ways, and then you can turn it 180 deg., and then tighten the nut back up. IF that was the problem with your no-start, this will fix it.
I've got some starters at the house....I might be able to get some pics of this procedure later this eve. I usually dis-assemble the solenoid just to see IF that stud is worn enough to cause the problem, but that's just me.
What happens with this particular stud, is that every time you hit the starter switch, the solenoid engages, and it "whacks" up against this stud, which transfers 12v power to the starter motor to spin it. When the solenoid hit the stud, it makes a big arc, like a welder. Eventually, it simply wears to a point that the solenoid just won't make full contact all the time.

It's worth a shot, anyway, imo.



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"

intermittent starting

Posted: 6/29/10 8:14pm Message 7 of 16
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Florence, KY - USA
Joined: 9/9/2007
Posts: 143
Vette(s): 1977 Coupe; yellow, 4 speed, one option car with original engine
Thanks Joel... and since the starter has to come off anyway I may as well give it a shot


current
1977 Coupe
 
gone but not forgotten
1996 Grand Sport
1984 coupe 
1974 coupe
1964 roadster

intermittent starting

Posted: 6/30/10 6:04pm Message 8 of 16
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...
The soleniod end is like a big washer. As a thirfty young man I found that you can lightly sand the stud to remove any pitting and flip over the soleniod end to the udder side or sand it down and go again.

The downside is that the pitting comes back around fairly quickly again. (Maybe a couple more years dependant on how often ya drive the ol girl.)

For the money a new solenoid is an inexpensive and trouble free fix. Unless ya don't mind ta carry a long screwdrive wit ya. Unlike Ghostbusters sometimes a little crossing of the arc can be a good thing to bring the beast ta life....


intermittent starting

Posted: 6/30/10 9:38pm Message 9 of 16
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Florence, KY - USA
Joined: 9/9/2007
Posts: 143
Vette(s): 1977 Coupe; yellow, 4 speed, one option car with original engine
Tux... haven't done that since high school when I had my first car, a 55 chevy. It was park on a hill or cross it over.


current
1977 Coupe
 
gone but not forgotten
1996 Grand Sport
1984 coupe 
1974 coupe
1964 roadster

intermittent starting

Posted: 7/1/10 2:36am Message 10 of 16
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...
LOL..... It was tuff not having mooch $$$ when we were young. Heck I can remember using old cans on the exhaust as well as the your hill trick.

Somethings do get better with age!


in Forum: C3 Electrical


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