maxfli01

I'm a new corvette owner and frist time user to this forum and would like to thank any who respond to my question in advance, THANKS! I have a 78 L-82 that will not start at times.
I've driven the car approximately 3 hrs, shut it off and it restarted with no problem. Then again I've driven it less than 30 minutes and shut it off and it would not start. It's a four speed car so I can push it off and start it.After it sits for awhile it will start with starter. With the differents in time it dosen't seem like a heat problem to me. Has anyone else had this problem or any ideas. Again thanks in advance!


[Modified by maxfli01, 12:13 PM 5/25/2004]

vettes1st

You need to explain what it is or isn't doing. If it cranks slow or doesn't crank, it could be the starter.

Pauld

Need a bit more info and by the way, welcome to the forum. :party: :cheers:

maxfli01

The car want do any thing. I can turn switch on and all electrical gauges work and battery gauge shows about 14 volts, but starter will not turn. No resonse at all.

Pauld

Does sound like the starter to me.

SLO RDE

Hey, I'm no expert but here's a few ideas for Ya : Starter or connections to the Starter.Ignition Switch on the Steering Column,Nuetral Safety Switch beside the shifter.I just went over all this on Mine for the same reason as Yours but I think all it was was a bad connection at the starter,Oh Yeah Welcome.Dale

78 Vette

Welcome :cheers:

Stewart's74

Check your ground wires for corrosion.

Apocolips

I had the same problem on a 1976 L-82. I found out that it was the starter. It would get to hot for the solinoid to work properly. I installed a heat shield over the starter and never had that problem again. Might be worth a try.

stingraymaniac

Sounds like a bad ground on the starter,check all wires going in to the starter.
could also be a bad ignition switch.
is the solenoid clicking when you turn the key?
if so i should be something with the starter ore the wires going in to it

Also welcome too the forum!!!! :cheers: :cheers:

Stoge

:iagree: First thing I thought was "It could be a bad ground".

Sharky Guam

Next time that it happens, take a bucket of water or better yet a water hose and douse down the starter assembly. This will soak up the heat and cool the solenoid and starter. Try to start the car, if the car starts, change the starter. Also install a piece of sheet metal as a heat sink. This will prevent a lot of heat from going to the starter. It could be a solenoid or the springs that push on the brushes in the starter. When either of them gets hot, they fail due to insufficient contacts. So it would be best to change both the starter and the solenoid to prevent the problem from reoccurring.

cw823

Bad ground on the starter? Ummm......

Mine had the same problems, except I'd get a click. I pulled a bit on the ground wire where it goes through the floor and next thing I new I was holding the entire ground cable in my hand. You can connect both terminals on the starter together to test the starter without removing it, if you want.