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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 02:42 PM
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Default Electrical issue

It’s a very nice day in the northeast and I decided to pull the cars out of the garage to detail them, I removed the battery tender from my 65 pumped the accelerator 3 times and hit the key, the car fired right up , within 5 seconds of it starting the interior lights flared and I heard what sounded like the starter engaging, along with that a little smoke from the ignition key, I immediately shut it down and crawled under the dash to see what is going on, I pulled the connector off of the ignition switch to get a better look at it and noticed the red wire looked like it has tracking on it started at where it enters the connector. No place else is there evidence of electrical tracking, what am I looking at here, is it the starter hanging up and back feeding, is it the ignition switch, the connector look good except for a little melted
Plastic on the connector where the red wire enters it, the lights Flaring has got me concerned. Possible bad voltage regulator? .
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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Gavin65
It’s a very nice day in the northeast and I decided to pull the cars out of the garage to detail them, I removed the battery tender from my 65 pumped the accelerator 3 times and hit the key, the car fired right up , within 5 seconds of it starting the interior lights flared and I heard what sounded like the starter engaging, along with that a little smoke from the ignition key, I immediately shut it down and crawled under the dash to see what is going on, I pulled the connector off of the ignition switch to get a better look at it and noticed the red wire looked like it has tracking on it started at where it enters the connector. No place else is there evidence of electrical tracking, what am I looking at here, is it the starter hanging up and back feeding, is it the ignition switch, the connector look good except for a little melted
Plastic on the connector where the red wire enters it, the lights Flaring has got me concerned. Possible bad voltage regulator? .
A stuck regulator could full field the alternator and cause bright lights, but not smoke. Smoke is caused by overcurrent. Alternator likely unrelated and flared lights if real a red herring. Sounds like a shorted ignition switch. Get under the car and inspect the wiring at the starter. One of the other guys who knows the harness better than I do will be along. The smallest wires in a circuit will get the hottest and the short closest to the most damage.

Dan
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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 09:09 PM
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I'd agree with Dan. Ignition switch sounds suspect especially since you said the starter re-engaged. I'd keep the battery disconnected until you get it sorted.

tom
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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 09:26 PM
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My money is on the ignition switch gone bad as well.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 04:53 AM
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Did a little more checking and confined that the starter wires are in good condition nothing bare or burned, checked all of the ignition harness and didn’t see any visible damage , and as far as I can see there is no damage under the dash other than the tracking on the connector at the the point where the red wire enters, the smoke I believe is from the momentary overcurrent of the red wire.I tend to agree it’s the ignition switch, now for the 64 thousand dollar question , where do I find an ignition switch for a 1965 corvette , I am under the impression that no repos are available and original used or NOS are none existent.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Gavin65
Did a little more checking and confined that the starter wires are in good condition nothing bare or burned, checked all of the ignition harness and didn’t see any visible damage , and as far as I can see there is no damage under the dash other than the tracking on the connector at the the point where the red wire enters, the smoke I believe is from the momentary overcurrent of the red wire.I tend to agree it’s the ignition switch, now for the 64 thousand dollar question , where do I find an ignition switch for a 1965 corvette , I am under the impression that no repos are available and original used or NOS are none existent.
Found two on Ebay. One preowned, one new.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 06:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Helix9595
Found two on Ebay. One preowned, one new.
didn’t see the new one, didn’t think any new 65 switches existed. The used one said to be NCRS correct, I don’t care as long as it fits correctly and works,
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Gavin65
didn’t see the new one, didn’t think any new 65 switches existed. The used one said to be NCRS correct, I don’t care as long as it fits correctly and works,
The one that I saw said it fit other vehicles so maybe it wasn’t correct. Hope you get this fixed. Maybe It is good that this issue showed up now during winter. It has already alerted me to the part availability issue.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Helix9595
The one that I saw said it fit other vehicles so maybe it wasn’t correct. Hope you get this fixed. Maybe It is good that this issue showed up now during winter. It has already alerted me to the part availability issue.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ignitio...-127632-2357-0
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Helix9595
The one that I saw said it fit other vehicles so maybe it wasn’t correct. Hope you get this fixed. Maybe It is good that this issue showed up now during winter. It has already alerted me to the part availability issue.
as much as I hate to agree with you with this being a good time for this to show up. I will shortly be upgrading suspension front and rear , transmission and engine, but I have to repair this first. I’m pretty confident that it is the ignition switch, I just need to make sure what I do buy is correct and works as intended. As far as part availably everything I ordered for the upgrades were ordered in January. Certain items are back ordered and won’t arrive until May,



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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 07:34 AM
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You could possibly rebuild yours.
Also there is a fellow named David Sokolowski who specializes in fixing and sourcing used, nos etc things like this. I lost track of his contact maybe some one here has it.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by phil2302
You could possibly rebuild yours.
Also there is a fellow named David Sokolowski who specializes in fixing and sourcing used, nos etc things like this. I lost track of his contact maybe some one here has it.
of someone does have his contact I would appreciate it. It’s tough buying used electrical items, you never really know or at least feel confident that it work. I’m certainly not looking to burn down my car.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 11:00 AM
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(310) 329 5334
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Gavin65
of someone does have his contact I would appreciate it. It’s tough buying used electrical items, you never really know or at least feel confident that it work. I’m certainly not looking to burn down my car.
Contact:...TCracingCA...hes a member here..he is friends with him...see post #11

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...okolowski.html

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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 12:20 PM
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Thank you for the information, hopefully he can help.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 05:04 PM
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I would think every Corvette Parts Distributor would have an ignition switch for a '65.
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Old Mar 3, 2022 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan Hampton
I would think every Corvette Parts Distributor would have an ignition switch for a '65.
you would think, the problem is if they do have them they are made in china, Not for me, and not because it’s not NCRS correct, it’s because their junk, my original one has lasted over 50 years, I would like to install one like and kind.

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Old Mar 4, 2022 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Gavin65
you would think, the problem is if they do have them they are made in china, Not for me, and not because it’s not NCRS correct, it’s because their junk, my original one has lasted over 50 years, I would like to install one like and kind.
Agree. And if you cant find a new original a properly refurbished original is a better way to go vs. the crummy imported version.
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Old Mar 6, 2022 | 09:16 AM
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I would like to thank those who had suggestions and actual contacts for finding a switch, through one of those contacts I was able to find a NOS ignition switch my 65. Thanks again.
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Old Mar 6, 2022 | 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by phil2302
Agree. And if you cant find a new original a properly refurbished original is a better way to go vs. the crummy imported version.
Glad you got what you needed Mission accomplished!
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