New vette owner
10-25-2008, 09:49 PM
#1
Instructor
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New vette owner
Ok, so I recently purchased a red 92 hard top 6 speed, lt1, 100% stock. Great to drive, fun car. It has 76k on it, paint and body are in perfect condition, everything seems fine on it. Few interior things need some work, but overall, not bad.
Put about 300 miles on it, normal driving. Drove it down to get some food, came back, parked it. Now it won't start. I put the key in, lights come on, turn it over, clicks once and all the lights go out, completely dead, no power at all.
I am thinking its a grounding issue, but now im not sure. I thought it might be a battery, checked the cables, as soon as i would touch one of the wires connecting to the positive terminal, lights would go on, etc. Then turn it over, single click, lose power. I think I have a bad connection on the positive battery cable. This sound about right, or common?
It was too dark to really check anything, so I just left it (Was over at a friends watching football). I have an 02 Acura TL-s as a daily driver, the vette is just for fun. So I have transportation. But I really want my vette running....
Put about 300 miles on it, normal driving. Drove it down to get some food, came back, parked it. Now it won't start. I put the key in, lights come on, turn it over, clicks once and all the lights go out, completely dead, no power at all.
I am thinking its a grounding issue, but now im not sure. I thought it might be a battery, checked the cables, as soon as i would touch one of the wires connecting to the positive terminal, lights would go on, etc. Then turn it over, single click, lose power. I think I have a bad connection on the positive battery cable. This sound about right, or common?
It was too dark to really check anything, so I just left it (Was over at a friends watching football). I have an 02 Acura TL-s as a daily driver, the vette is just for fun. So I have transportation. But I really want my vette running....
10-25-2008, 10:59 PM
#4
Drifting
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If you touched the positive cable and everything came on, then you have a bad connection somewhere on the positive cable. It could be that its just not tightened fully at the battery, or there could be some corrosion at the battery terminals that is preventing a good connection.
Look at your battery terminals and the main large wires going to the battery and make sure they are clean and securely tightened down.
Look at your battery terminals and the main large wires going to the battery and make sure they are clean and securely tightened down.
10-25-2008, 11:22 PM
#5
Instructor
Definately check that battery, and the pos cable connection. I have had similar situtaions, and it is usually a bad connection. But don't discount a bad battery.
10-25-2008, 11:48 PM
#6
Safety Car
Symptoms of a bad connection - the battery post terminals on my '96 are pretty crappy, and I had to clean them up and bolt them down really tight. I imagine they're the same design as your car
10-26-2008, 12:33 AM
#7
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Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. It was too dark to mess with the terminals tonight, so i will go back over and mess with it in the morning. I get the feeling that something is lose on the cable, might end up getting a new positive terminal or something.
This looks like a great community, quick responses, thanks. Good to be here. Ill post some pics up soon.
This looks like a great community, quick responses, thanks. Good to be here. Ill post some pics up soon.
10-26-2008, 01:09 AM
#8
Team Owner
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CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
Try the easiest stuff first.
Disconnect the negative cable from the battery then disconnect the positive.
Inspect and clean both. Check the threads on the bolts to make sure they're in good shape.
After cleaning and if the bolts are in good shape reconnect the positive, then reconnect the negative.
Try it then and see if it starts. If it cranks slowly the battery may be low due to the connections having being bad. Charge the battery and try again.
Disconnect the negative cable from the battery then disconnect the positive.
Inspect and clean both. Check the threads on the bolts to make sure they're in good shape.
After cleaning and if the bolts are in good shape reconnect the positive, then reconnect the negative.
Try it then and see if it starts. If it cranks slowly the battery may be low due to the connections having being bad. Charge the battery and try again.
10-26-2008, 02:39 PM
#9
Safety Car
Also the battery quality isn't that great anymore. Four to five years if you're lucky anymore. Had my vette die at the end of a parade no advance warning. A cell just went.
10-26-2008, 02:56 PM
#10
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Disconnected the battery cable, used a wire brush on the connections and terminal, reconnected, fired right up. Easy fix. God I love driving this thing.
10-26-2008, 04:51 PM
#11
Cool Hand Luke of W MI
Welcome to the CF!
Post some pics up when you get time.
As you can see, I am somewhat partial to your year and color!
Post some pics up when you get time.
As you can see, I am somewhat partial to your year and color!
10-26-2008, 05:13 PM
#12
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10-26-2008, 08:00 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '09
Great job on chasing down your problem and fixing it yourself!!!! That is what owning a Vette is all about. I have read so many threads from people that buy a Vette and want to modify it before they even run a tankful of gas through it. You will enjoy your Vette, I guarantee it.
10-27-2008, 04:52 AM
#14
Burning Brakes
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If you touched the positive cable and everything came on, then you have a bad connection somewhere on the positive cable. It could be that its just not tightened fully at the battery, or there could be some corrosion at the battery terminals that is preventing a good connection.
Look at your battery terminals and the main large wires going to the battery and make sure they are clean and securely tightened down.
Look at your battery terminals and the main large wires going to the battery and make sure they are clean and securely tightened down.
10-28-2008, 12:24 AM
#20
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nice vette! I am partial to the 92 as I am also an owner of a 92 hardtop. Welcome...I am new to this forum, but when I frequented the C3 forum here, I had lots of help while restoring my 78. -DDBS