1990 No Crank

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842

Thanks Jerry- I have a 91 so do you recommend the same start procedure?

The 93-95 Z's do not benefit from the relay mod. Only the 90-92 MYs do.

[Ccmano]

Originally Posted by SAHall

Seems odd that solenoid contacts would burn after only 16,000 miles. Poor design? On that note, why put the starter under the plenum anyway?


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Whatever reasons the engineers had for putting it there will remain a mystery, it is what it is. 16k miles on a 30 year old car is not the same as 16k miles on a one year old car. Age is a factor but more importantly the number of times it has been started and stopped. In 30 years it has gotten many more starts than a younger car of the same miles. You can call it poor design or whatever but the fact remains it’s time to service the starter.
H

[lfalzarano]

Not trying to dig up a dead horse and beating it, BUT has DNS ever happened during cold weather?


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[lfalzarano]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

Cold weather slows the chemical reaction happening inside your car battery. At 32 deg F, a car's battery loses about 35% of its strength. And at 0 deg F, it loses up to 60% of its strength........The engine requires nearly twice as much power to start in very cold weather (Cold oil is more viscus and cold parts clearances can be tighter)



I assume your "DNS" is Does Not Start



Make sure your battery is fully charged



Another little secret....If you think you will have trouble starting a cold engine .....

Hook up a charger just before you turn the crank (Leave charger connected as you engage the starter..... that boost in voltage is usually enough to start in the coldest of weather



Try it.....you will like it as the engine will turn over much faster and start much quicker



Your Alternator is NOT charging as you try to start.

I understand the Winter issues for batteries, and experienced the dreaded clicking or dimming of headlights, but never the Does Not Start after driving. There is a workaround for DNS as part of this thread. My thoughts are that DNS condition doesn?t happen in the Winter and only in the Summer. I was wondering if anyone on the Forum had the DNS in the Winter. In general, batteries last longer in the Northern climates versus the Southern climates.


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[32valvZ]

Originally Posted by SAHall

Seems odd that solenoid contacts would burn after only 16,000 miles. Poor design? On that note, why put the starter under the plenum anyway?


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If I remember correctly....Because mounting it on the side of the block like a traditional SBC wouldnt work on the LT-5 due to fitment. The LT-5 is allot wider than a SBC.

[ZBrink]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

I install Relays in All 90's and 91' and touch up Starter Solenoid contacts in ALL ZR1s' as a standard restoration

I've got a '90 on a road trip. Currently stuck at a gas station. The starter is not engaging so no cranking. Any ideas?

[bob@tradeshowconsulting.c]

If it were me I would first try to get someone to jump start it..



second I would let cool and also disconnect neg battery cable for a while till cool. reconnect and try starting,




Third or second I would push start .. push roll the car and pop the clutch to start,with the ignition on ... and not turn the car off till at your destination



other than that it could just be a bad starter or ..other issue..

[Tim555]

Originally Posted by ZBrink

I've got a '90 on a road trip. Currently stuck at a gas station. The starter is not engaging so no cranking. Any ideas?

Did you ever figure out the issue?

[ZBrink]

Originally Posted by Tim555

Did you ever figure out the issue?

I have not but just posted and update to the thread I had started on this issue:
https://www.zr1.net/forum/showpost.p...1&postcount=24

[Tim555]

Originally Posted by Tim555

Did you ever figure out the issue?

Update on my problem. A new starter put in by the dealer who sold me the car DID NOT fix the issue. Despite the clutch switch working, and not showing a resistance issue on the voltmeter, I decided to jumper it out anyway with some 12ga wire. Well I?ll be damned if that didn?t fix it. I ops tested it by getting the car hot and having the no start issue, and then putting in the jumper and it starts. Lesson is even if your clutch switch is good, it might still be bad. I will probably install a starter relay as a permanent fix. I did have the drive belt jump off or break while I was doing this, but luckily I was a mile from home. I?ll work on that this week?