I turn the key and it won't start...
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I turn the key and it won't start...
I went to go move my vette into the garage tonight since it's supposed to get in the 20s overnight and I don't know if I have enought anti-freeze in it. Anyways, I go to start the car and the first time I turn the key over, nothing happens - no clicking, whining, nothing. I try again and it starts ok. I was warming the motor up and wasn't paying enough attention to the throttle and the engine died. Now, no matter how many times I try to start it, nothing happens. If I put the key into the on position, and go manually short the starter jumpers, it starts right up so I know it's not a battery problem. Is there some weak link in the ignition switch that could have failed to cause this? Any ideas?
Thanks.
Thanks.
#2
Drifting
Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
Try putting it in drive and kinda slamming it back in park. I had to do this on mine till I changed the starter. I had to climb several times under it to jump across the starter. I put a gm mini starter in mine and have not had a problem since. I think you might have a dead spot in the armatour (sp).
Bob
Bob
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (76 Red)
What's the "armatour"? Part of the transmission I take it, but what exactly? It seems sorta strange - after I do jumper it to start it, it seems the next time I try to start it, the key works for the first time, but not again.
On a side note I had my girlfriend "helping" me get the car started so I could put it into the garage. I had her sitting in the driver seat and instructed her to hold the RPMs level at 1500 once I started the car by shorting the starter leads. Anyways, I short it and the car starts, only to hear her rev it up to what sounded like 5000RPM before I came running around the front of the car yelling for her to let go of the gas! After she did, I saw a huge plume of smoke billowing down the street. I hope nothing got broken and it was just oil blowby and gas. I ended up having to push it up the inclined driveway into the garage. So much for free help!
:mad :mad :mad
[Modified by Langadorf, 12:19 AM 1/24/2003]
On a side note I had my girlfriend "helping" me get the car started so I could put it into the garage. I had her sitting in the driver seat and instructed her to hold the RPMs level at 1500 once I started the car by shorting the starter leads. Anyways, I short it and the car starts, only to hear her rev it up to what sounded like 5000RPM before I came running around the front of the car yelling for her to let go of the gas! After she did, I saw a huge plume of smoke billowing down the street. I hope nothing got broken and it was just oil blowby and gas. I ended up having to push it up the inclined driveway into the garage. So much for free help!
:mad :mad :mad
[Modified by Langadorf, 12:19 AM 1/24/2003]
#4
Drifting
Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
Armature (I think I spelled it right this time) It is the "wire wrapped thingy" that spins inside the starter main housing. It could also just be bad brushes in the starter. Mine did the exact "exact" same thing. Just replace your starter should fix your problem.
I have always known women have lead feet. My wife stomps my car every time she leaves the driveway with it. They are worse than men.
I have always known women have lead feet. My wife stomps my car every time she leaves the driveway with it. They are worse than men.
#6
Drifting
Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
I can't answer that, my thinking would be it is landing on a dead spot when it stops turning. I posted the same Q as you did and got some good answers like check the neutral safety switch, clean all the wires and check the grounds. You might want to do those first. I was at the peformance shop and mine did it again, it was raining I had no tools I called a friend he brought some tools, I told him I have to try one more time. Wammm it started. I drove staight home and put the mini started on and have not had a problem since. That was back in June.
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
I have a similar problem, after I took the steering wheel off to replace the ignition switch on the column, the dang thang would not start every time.
At first I thought battery and went thru the jumper cable drill. even bought a new one..ends up I have shorted or done something to the tilt/tele system so that the tilt has to be down for the car to start..I need to fix it soon but for now I am calling it my security system....!
At first I thought battery and went thru the jumper cable drill. even bought a new one..ends up I have shorted or done something to the tilt/tele system so that the tilt has to be down for the car to start..I need to fix it soon but for now I am calling it my security system....!
#8
Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
It sounds like the problem I had with my neutral safety switch. I could push on the gear selector toward the fron and it would then start. as usual.
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (75stinger)
Mine did the same thing. Could be a bad cable to the starter. Rebuilt the starter while I was at it. Put a volt meter to the battery. That will isolate the battery. Mine tested OK and the amp guage in the dash showed a current draw but the starter only worked when shorted.
#10
Drifting
Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
Why would jumping the starter always work if something inside the start were bad?
check this site for a simple diagram
http://www.10w40.com/individual/100047.asp
And search the archives for a lot of similar threads under "starter"
[Modified by 72GACRZR, 12:58 PM 1/24/2003]
[Modified by 72GACRZR, 1:09 PM 1/24/2003]
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (72GACRZR)
Well I banged the gear selector around back and forth through neutral and park and it still wouldn't start. I jumped it by shorting the starter and it worked; the next time the key was able to start the engine; the next time it wasn't. It sounds to me like there is a loose connection on one of the safety switches. Where are these switches located exactly? In the steering column? Transmission?
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
YOU have a bad solenoid on the starter .THats the piece on top of the starterall the wires run too .Just get anew starter with the solenoid and be done with it .
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (hiyosilver)
I don't see how a bad starter solenoid would explain the problem. If it was bad, I would think it wouldn't start under ANY condition. It starts EVERY time I short it directly at the starter. The starter is also less than 6 months old.
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (Langadorf)
OK, let's knock out some of the obvious here:
Is your ignition switch engaging fully when you turn the key to "start"?
The ignition switch is located on the top left side of steering column down near the floor. The ignition switch is connected to the lock cylinder by a couple parts that get worn out over the years and eventually fail. I predict that we will see a whole lot more of these posts in the next year or so.
First, the distance the ignition switch travels can be fine tuned by losening up the mounting screws on the steering column and moving the switch up towards the steering wheel. There are slots on the switch that allow this. be careful though, as the screws are VERY short and you will be cursing the day you were born if they are accidently removed.
Second, make sure before you touch the switch that turning the key actually moves the rod connected to the switch. If the key turns too freely, you probably have a broken tooth on the plastic gear, called a "sector"
Is your ignition switch engaging fully when you turn the key to "start"?
The ignition switch is located on the top left side of steering column down near the floor. The ignition switch is connected to the lock cylinder by a couple parts that get worn out over the years and eventually fail. I predict that we will see a whole lot more of these posts in the next year or so.
First, the distance the ignition switch travels can be fine tuned by losening up the mounting screws on the steering column and moving the switch up towards the steering wheel. There are slots on the switch that allow this. be careful though, as the screws are VERY short and you will be cursing the day you were born if they are accidently removed.
Second, make sure before you touch the switch that turning the key actually moves the rod connected to the switch. If the key turns too freely, you probably have a broken tooth on the plastic gear, called a "sector"
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Re: I turn the key and it won't start... (thejaf)
The switch seems to be fully engaging and turns normally when I move it to the start position. The electric accessories all momentarily shut off when the key is in the start position so this tells me at least some switch is working properly.
When I get home from work, I'll crawl under the dash and see if I can find the ignition switch components and check that out.
When I get home from work, I'll crawl under the dash and see if I can find the ignition switch components and check that out.