Well I guess this must be the month for starter problems judging by some posts. Last month after a long run in 90+ heat with AC on I stopped at a rest area to meet some friends. She would not start, nothing, dead. Jumped with another battery, nothing. Hit the starter with blunt object, nothing. Key on screwdriver accross the solenoid and she started up. This has not happened again since then.

Bad spot on the starter? or starter ready to go?

I am not the expert, but it is hot in south Florida also.
Have you thought about heat soak ? I used to have that problem with big blocks using headers.
If you are using headers, heat may be the culprit.
Letting it set for a while longer to cool off, it may have started.
There are heat shields available, which act as a heat sink, absorbing some of the heat.

It could be the starter... or it might be the solenoid or the wiring to the solenoid.

The fact that you could get a reaction when using a screwdriver across the solenoid leads me in the solenoid direction.

Usually the solenoid will "click" when the key is put on start. The solenoid throws the starter into the flywheel (the click) and completes the starter circuit to make it spin. But if the starter was bad you would still hear the click and thats it (no spinning starter).

Because you said nothing happened when you tried to start it kinda sounds like the solenoid.

Just a guess... and good luck.

Well I got the battery and starter checked tonight. Battery OK. Starter pulled 403A at 10.2V - I'm suprised the battery was able to keep up. No wonder it is slow starting. I guess it is time to change the starter.

3 weeks ago, I drove to see my Vette mechanics and I had to start the Vette to show him something and guess what ? It didn't start. The mechanics had it started with a screwdriver applied to the solenoid. We made several starter tests and the Vette didn't start for at least half of them. I was glad to be at my mechanics place so he replaced the solenoid on the spot and since, no problem.

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I had my starter go out at a Corvette show. Thankfully they had a mechanic on duty (American Customs in Toledo,Ohio). The starter was toast so they replaced it with one from NAPA. Starter with silonoid was $94.00 not including labor. NO problems with the starter on my 80 since...






80 vette claret/claret 18000 miles

I haven't decided yet but I found an auto electric shop locally that will rebuild my starter for $80-$90 depending on what they find wrong. I am leaning that direction right now, as long as it is not too much of a bear to get the starter in and out of the vette.

Update. Thought I would treat myself since it was 100+ degrees in the garage to have shop that was doing the rewind put it in and out for me. I think I remember reading somewhere that the L82 had a heavy duty starter. He said it was one of the heaviest starters he has taken out. Anyway the rebuild went well, then I get a call, she will not start, no power to the solenoid. He didn't have a wiring diagram for troubleshooting so I told him to just get me started and I will troubleshoot it at home. Ignition switch checked out good, neutral safety switch checked out good, there is nothing left in the circuit but wire after these two components. Traced the wire and found a connector on the main harness to the starter loose and only partialy made. Tightened connector and voila, problem found and fixed. Well I learned where the neutral switch is, how it is wired, how to check it, so all in all a good time.