the car is a 84 vette auto with 120k on it we have had the car for a while and i drove it to a friends house today parked it outside for a 3 hours went to start it up and i got nothing the whole dash lit up but no clicking from the starter or anything went back 5 mins later and tried again didnt work.i tired starting it in park and neutral. still the same thing in both. i didnt try jumping it because i couldnt get my friends cables to clap on right. to me it seems like the transmission just isnt engaging the starter.

any one have any ideas

 

I have had that happen with my '87 and found that the battery termanals needed cleaning and tightening. and a good charge on the battery. Cheers.

I hate side mount termianls.

 

Most likely, your problem is either the starter itself or the neutral switch. If you can find the purple wire in the loom going down to the starter, you can check for a start signal with a test light since that is the wire coming from nuetral switch. Got power in start posistion, starter is bad. No power, either nuetral switch is bad or ignition switch.

 

ok so i went to go look at the car today and before i started doing anything i tried starting it and it started.so i drove home when i got home i turned it off and then went back like 5 mins later and she started right up. should i be worried about the problem that i had last night incase i get stuck somewere again and cant get a ride home ? why would it just start today and not yesterday?

 

Hey Mech?, Isn't there some deal with the security system on these cars that will cause that type of starting problem too?

 

Not sure if anyone watches this thread still, but im having this exact issue with my 84. It just won't turn over or even try to crank. It got super sluggish starting one day and then I made a stop at the store, got gas and it wouldn't start anymore.
I've got a good battery charged and tested, I checked power going through the theft relay, while turning the key to the start posituon I have power coming out of all the wires on the theft relay. I already replaced the starter as I thought that was my issue initially. Everything works on it as it should just no crank.
84 corvette 5.7l auto 92k miles.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Check the battery voltage at the battery and at the starter with the key in the Start position. If you have voltage at the starter with no start then it's either the solenoid or the starter. If you don't have voltage at the starter but do have it at the battery then you have a bad connection somewhere. Check your grounds.