Topic: No crank or click
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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I have an 1982 CE and after driving it, will turn the car off. Then about five minutes later, try the start the car again, nothing happens. All the courtsey lights work, radio operates, and so does windows. Was at Auto Zone, I had them check my battery and it was at 80% charge. Try to jump the car, nothing. They install a new battery with the same results. After 15 to 20 minuets, try one more time and this time the care started. We still had the new battery, then put my battery back in, and the car started right up. Everything I have read, points to either the neutral safety switch or the starter interupt relay. Dont want to start replacing parts without knowing what is causing the issue. Any ideas where I need to start looking.
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Overland Park, KS - USA
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Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.
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How about the starter itself? Has the voltage at the starter and solenoid been checked with the key in the start position when it doesn't start?
1973 L-82 4 spd
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Johnny605 said: Either they work or they don’t.
Not necessarily....a solenoid can work on one start and not the next. Try tapping on the starter while some holds the key to "Start". If it cranks over, your problem is solenoid or starter related.
To test for power, you need to use a multi-meter, or test light. Hook up to the "S" terminal on the solenoid, which will be the purple wire closest to the engine block. With the key in the "Start" position, you should see battery voltage on that wire, whether it cranks or not. If you do NOT see battery voltage there, then you can go to the neutral safety(or clutch) switch and do the same test for battery voltage(purple/white wire) while in the "Start" position. If no batt voltage AT the NSS, then you have an ignition switch(or wiring) issue, or......since this is an '82, you also have the theft deterrent system to deal with, which is another ball game altogether.
|UPDATED|9/9/2018 11:36:42 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Joel Adams
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I’m little confused, the problem only occurs when the engine is hot. If I start the engine when its cold, it starts perfectly. Can the starter or solenoid fail when the engine is hot?
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Overland Park, KS - USA
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Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.
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Yes.
1973 L-82 4 spd
Johnny605 said: I’m little confused, the problem only occurs when the engine is hot. If I start the engine when its cold, it starts perfectly. Can the starter or solenoid fail when the engine is hot?
Yes, my '78 did that. Once it cooled down some it would start. Had to replace the solenoid.
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Overland Park, KS - USA
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Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.
2023 Accelerate Yellow HTC Stingray
Before you do that, do the tests that Adams Apple proposed. Besides if the starter and/or solenoid only fail when hot, then chances are they will pass testing st room temp. Then you'll have to go back and do the testing.
1973 L-82 4 spd
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Vette(s): 1978 L48 Auto. Red with Oyster Leather interior. Owned since 1990.
Johnny, not sure how you've got on with this, I was away and unable to post.
But, it definitely sounds like a problem that seems more common over in the UK than in the US strangely. When the starter/solenoid get hot, the resistance increases and starting doesn't happen. As said, a test will not reproduce the same scenario, so is not conclusive.
I had this issue about 15 years ago and a starter rebuild solved it. But, it began to re-occur recently. I pulled the starter and thoroughly cleaned the solenoid inside and out. But I also went over EVRY wiring connection to the starter, from the battery onwards, cleaning and tightening them all. Once everything was refitted it was test time - the starter nearly turned the whole car over!
So, I'd start with a clean of everything, and see what happens after that.
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in Forum: C3 Electrical
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