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Chevelle won’t start

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RaptorGhost

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
So before this, my Chevelle would start with zero issues. I went to swap out the radio myself and disconnected the negative and positive battery terminal, in that order.

I installed the radio, reconnected the battery and voila, the car won’t start.

Everything electronic works, headlights, taillights, dash lights, etc. but the car won’t start, won’t even crank.

I tested the battery, it’s fine. I then swapped out ALL of the fuses and still nothing.

Worth noting, before when I would turn the ignition, only the “Gen” red light would light up, now only the “oil” red light lights up, and when trying to start the car the “hot” red light turns on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: I just got this car and I’m not an expert at this at all. So I apologize if I’m wasting anyone’s time.
 
#10 ·
I would check the ignition switch mounted on the column...it may have moved. When you rotate the key...it moves a lever inside the column that engages the ignition switch on the column. If the switch has moved then the lever can't extend enough to engage the switch.
 
#11 ·
Before you dig deeper into this...rotate your key to the on position...then move your gear selector through the gears. then go back to park and try to start the car.
 
#12 ·
If your car is an automatic, wiggle the shifter while holding key in crank position.

If that doesn't work, while holding the brake, try with shifter in neutral. And wiggle it.

I was typing at same time as the person above ^^^

Sometimes, especially if parked on a hill or without setting the parking brake, due to wear on more than one thing, there can be slack in the linkage or cable which operates the neutral safety switch. Mine did this to me the other day. If it is a floor shift automatic, the collar ahead of the signal lever on the column that rotates when shifter is operated might just need to be twisted counterclockwise to take up slack... then off you go, happy motoring.

If thats all it is and you know about it... it can be a theft deterrant defect. ;)
 
#14 ·
RaptorGhost said:
when I turn the key once, all the electronics turn on, but when I try to crank it, it doesn’t even make a noise to start up
Click to expand...
Look over the areas by the steering column you may have disturbed. Sounds like as the others have said the neutral safety switch.
 
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#15 ·
im with the others, being as you are in a "no crank" situation, and you just had the dash apart to work on the radio, you disturbed something kind of vital to making the starter go.
A fairly easy way to confirm this would be with a test light at your starter. There will be one or two small wires on the back of the solenoid. I think most times the wire you are after is purple. its basically what gets power when you flip the key to start. If i am alone, i clip the alligator clip on the test light to the terminal on the starter, then touch the probe to a ground up high in the engine compartment so i can see the light.....then hit the key and see if it lights up. if it doesnt light up, definitely work back to the column. if it lights up, then you need to start looking at starter, battery, grounds....etc. But im willing to bet your problem is in the dash somewhere.
Image

You will want to probe the "s" terminal.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
e0em9mlc said:
Check the natural safety switch...Also, you may have accidentally rotated the sleeve on the steering column.
Click to expand...
neutral safety switch seems fine, although there is no purple wire.

Dean said:
Got a meter or test light to see if you have power at the neutral safety switch?
Click to expand...
check the photo I attached to this, seems like there’s a light but it’s not on

RICH1965 said:
Is the battery cable positive rotted out?
Click to expand...
Battery cable positive is fine
 
#18 ·
OK before you go off trying to replace everything go back over your steps from when the car started before. You say you disconnected the battery so start there. Remove the cable's, it's always negative first then positive. Take a piece of sandpaper and clean the battery terminals and the cable ends terminals so that both terminal and cable ends are clean. Lead terminals are shiny when they are clean, re-install and make sure they are tight.
They make battery terminal cleaning tools but since you're new to old cars I didn't think you had one of them so use some medium grit sandpaper. This is free and worth a try as a starting place.
Let us know if it works on not and then go from there.
 
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#19 ·
Maybe I missed it but, what year is your Chevelle. Many of the answers are for a 68 and later that have a key in the steering column. If it is a 64-67 Chevelle and you were under the dash you might have moved the "start" wire from the ignition switch. Make sure all those wires are firmly attached to the area in back of the key.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
71350SS said:
OK before you go off trying to replace everything go back over your steps from when the car started before. You say you disconnected the battery so start there. Remove the cable's, it's always negative first then positive. Take a piece of sandpaper and clean the battery terminals and the cable ends terminals so that both terminal and cable ends are clean. Lead terminals are shiny when they are clean, re-install and make sure they are tight.
They make battery terminal cleaning tools but since you're new to old cars I didn't think you had one of them so use some medium grit sandpaper. This is free and worth a try as a starting place.
Let us know if it works on not and then go from there.
Click to expand...
I retraced my steps again for what felt like the 10th time lol. But after reading your comment and really thinking on it, I did recall that there were 3 cables spliced together that were connected to the old radio, I had separated them when installing the new radio. Not sure what reminded me, but I went ahead and connected the cables to each other again and it worked. Cranked right up with no issues at all. Thank you all for all of your input and assistance. I really appreciate it.

Spanky8601 said:
Maybe I missed it but, what year is your Chevelle. Many of the answers are for a 68 and later that have a key in the steering column. If it is a 64-67 Chevelle and you were under the dash you might have moved the "start" wire from the ignition switch. Make sure all those wires are firmly attached to the area in back of the key.
Click to expand...
Yeah I figured as much. Mine is a '72, and I was able to piece together all of the other forum posts and well as the assistance everyone else has given me. I finally got it to work.


Thank you once again to everyone who helped out!
 
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