Starting problem

[ZO6Vettever]

02-ZO6-19,000 miles. Have had starting problems several times over 3-4 months. Turn key, everything working but no turn over. Turn key numerous times and shazam, it starts. Yesterday would not go, had to get a wrecker. He tried jumping it, no go, he tapped the starter and vrroom. He told me the battery was no good (it's about 3 months old) and it engaged the starter to the flywheel but not enough power to turn it over and stuck. Went directly to Advance Auto, 13.8 - 14 volts on the way there so the alternator is OK, they checked the battery and said it's OK. I'm lost???

 

[Ms. AntiVenom]

Sounds to me like a bad starter solenoid or a bad connection somewhere. if the experts weren't busy I would ask them

 

[85vette]

If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the ignition switch. I know several people who have had the problems you describe and it's been the ignition switch in each case. The problem is that it's intermitant, you know, it won't act up at the garage when a mechanic is looking at it. Then again, if you hit the starter and it turns over, it may well be the solonoid.:shrug01:

 

[Rich Z]

I had the same identical problem on my 02 Z06 a while back that turned out to be a loose/corroded cable on the starter itself. I would look there first....

 

[RevXtreme 1]

As Ms AntiVenom stated, dollars to donuts it's a burn't solinoid. very common & the solinode cannot be purchased seperate, you need a new starter. We suggest a high torque, high heat after market that can be clocked to keep it as far away as possible from the headers/exhaust.:thumbsup:

 

[98 softtail]

I hate those "now it's working, now its not" gremlins.

 

[ZO6Vettever]

Thanks for the tips!

Thanks to all for the tips. I ran it up onto some 4" blocks and found the starter but the connections, well forget about it. I'm in Key West and there isn't much choices as to where to take it. I'll have to go to the Chevy dealer and let them rake me over the coals. I just don't trust them. My wife had a Cavalear vert some years ago. Three years old, 37,000 miles and I asked them to service it and make sure it was OK to drive to Philly. They told me the water pump was bad, $800. to replace! I took it to a local repair shop, he said $450. and I said great. Went to pick it up and he said nothing was wrong with the pump, no charge. We went up and back to Philly, no problems, no water added??? Drove the car a couple more years with the "bad" water pump with no problem. The shop that didn't rip me off is still in business but I'm paranoid they won't know how to lift it properly and screw something up. The dealer also repaired the steering column lock and charged me. Later I found there was a 2nd recall and they ripped me off. I wish Anti-Venom was here in Key West, y'all are lucky to have trusted shops!

 

[Lou G]

My wife had a Cavalear vert some years ago. Three years old, 37,000 miles and I asked them to service it and make sure it was OK to drive to Philly. They told me the water pump was bad, $800. to replace! I took it to a local repair shop, he said $450. and I said great. Went to pick it up and he said nothing was wrong with the pump, no charge. We went up and back to Philly, no problems, no water added??? Drove the car a couple more years with the "bad" water pump with no problem.

I know what you mean. My daughter's car air-conditioning stopped one day. Took it to the dealer and they wanted $1,200 to replace the lines. I thanked them and took it to a local shop. They gave it a shot of freon for $40 and the air is very cool (no pun intended) six months later.

 

[ZO6Vettever]

I had the starter replaced and I'm hoping for the best. Thanks for the reply!