Frustrated - Help!

[cpo5969]

Greetings all, just had one of those crappy days. I have an 88, automatic, it is my daily car. It has 200+ on it, and yesterday replaced the starter and fly wheel for the first time. After that episode was done, the darn battery shows an 11.6 on the digital readout.
I turn the key and get nothing...not a click, not anything, just like the VATS might have acted up. I waited 4 minutes, nothing, waited 6 min, waited 1 hour nothing, anyway, I am going to change the battery today, put a new one, and if this thing does not crank, what can I do? I have the lighter fluid and matches ready, but this is my baby (17 years) so I guess, I just have to learn patience and keep reading all your great responses. It is very, very fustrating.

 

[vette-dude]

Are you sure you have a good connection on the cable running to the starter. Also check your ground cable to make sure it is tight on the battery end and on the grounding point. I think your POS cable is not making the connection to the starter.


Randy

 

[ProEMTPFF]

Make sure you have a good connection on the cable running to the starter, check your ground cable to make sure it is tight on the battery. If all this looks good then get a new battery. I know the earlier C4's have a protection built in that won't allow the car to start when voltage gets low. I forget what that voltage is but it sounds like your below it and thats your problem.

 

[ZumZum]

Put down the matches and step away from the vehicle, sir!

 

[korvettekarl]

Make sure the starter is wired correctly. 11.6 volts should at least turn the motor over. Purple wire to the starter solenoid?

 

[Hrtbeat1]

Clean all the terminals on the positive junction block. Right behind the battery, toward the firewall.

 

[Moonunit 451]

If above does not work, do you have a second key? The VATS can be bypassed if needed. but it sure does sound like it could be related to what you have done. Is anything happeaning when you turn the key?

Don't forget the "Defective Part" scenario

 

[jimmers]

i posted a little while ago about the same problem. My problem was that a ground became loose at the starter.

 

[cpo5969]

Thank you all. When I put the key in it does the exact same thing that the car would do when VATS is activated. All lights come up, but no click, no nada....just dead. I am going to check the connections and take the battery out and replace it. It is still under warranty. Pep Boys.... While VATS is a great idea, darn it, we should be allowed to put the security system on our own and avoid all these days. In the 17 years, there have been many, but they never last this long. Thanks everyone and will continue to take your advice.

 

[Brianjt1987]

My 87 did the same thing and it turned out to be the ing. lock cyl. I guess it was to worn out to read the key. (Big bucks to get it replaced ad ). I can't remember what the battery voltage was reading. Good luck :confused

 

[younggun]

When i do anything to something when it wrong, I first fix what I think is wrong, then pray to god it works, and most of the time (with a lot of praying) it works

Hope you fix it :BOW

 

[Mart]

I had the same symptom after checking the TPS and some other stuff, turns out I put the car in Drive and forgot about it, some lights, no start.

Boy was I Pi****, duh stupid me, after checking everything under the sun, I went through what I did step by step as in the manual, and then the light went on..... Put the car in park and Vrrrooommm.

Boy did I feel stupid..:crazy

Mart

 

[Moonunit 451]

I had the same symptom after checking the TPS and some other stuff, turns out I put the car in Drive and forgot about it, some lights, no start.

Boy was I Pi****, duh stupid me, after checking everything under the sun, I went through what I did step by step as in the manual, and then the light went on..... Put the car in park and Vrrrooommm.

Boy did I feel stupid..:crazy

Mart

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Put down the matches and step away from the vehicle, sir!

:L :L

 

[Mart]

yeah yeah yeah, glad you got a good laugh Moonunit..

I felt like a Freakin idiot. :Silly

 

[Hrtbeat1]

Hey Mart don't worry it happens to the best of us. Just Grin a bear it.

 

[cpo5969]

Done, whew!!!

All the coonections were ok, cleaned all of them, still no spark. My friend went to RAdio Shack, bought the resistors (I think) and by-passed the VATS. Pretty simple as I watched him. Cranked the ignition, it started. Took her out, stopped at all the local Circle K's and she started right up. Thanks everyone for your inputs and now we have one more believer in the by-pass system in these beautiful rides.

Carlos

 

[British Bob]

Hi,

Could just be a bad replacement starter.

I just experienced pretty much everything that you have mentioned a few months ago. Battery was replaced but nothing changed.

Mechanic was adamant that the starter was good. after much expence he finaly put in another new one and now the car starts faster than I can turn the key.

Check out my rather painfull threads "what the hells going on" and "important questions" for the history. You may find some similarities.

Cheers

British Bob

 

[Moonunit 451]

All the coonections were ok, cleaned all of them, still no spark. My friend went to RAdio Shack, bought the resistors (I think) and by-passed the VATS. Pretty simple as I watched him. Cranked the ignition, it started. Took her out, stopped at all the local Circle K's and she started right up. Thanks everyone for your inputs and now we have one more believer in the by-pass system in these beautiful rides.

Carlos

Good job Carlos This is the first problem that I had with my car, but I hadn't done anything else to rule out, so it was a little easier for me to diagnose, with the help of the great folks her at :BOW

Hey Mart, not laughing at you, but with you Believe me, as I've said before, the job ain't done right for me till it's done 3 times (from the begining) :cry

 

[Mart]

Hey no biggie Moonunit, I think my wife is the one who laughs at me.


Mart