HELP- doesnt have any power
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
HELP- doesnt have any power
I just bought this car with no motor in it, I put a rebuilt block and heads back in the car and hooked the battery up to turn the starter and got nothing. I have the battery cables hooked up right, i even ohmed them both out on the starter and the main engine ground because the batterys in the trunk.. I tried jumping the two starter terminals but got little sparks and tiny clicks no crank. I know i got power for a split second because i thought i heard the door chime and saw the radio lit up for a second then everything cut back off, The gauges all moved for a split second too. I believe the problem is my accesories arent getting power or there is a main power fuse i dont know about? Are there any other grounds besides the big one next to the motor mount? Any help greatly appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I had a similar problem and it was the negative battery cable. It goes through the battery box and bolts to the frame right under the box. Mine was corroded in half. It's very easy to get to. Don't even have to jack up the car.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
ill have to check that out. The battery reads 11.8 volts and voltage doesnt drop when i turn the key to on and then start position. I need the basic wiring and grounds for this stuff if someone can shoot them out... thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Also check the 5 other ground cables. What year vette? Some years have 2 or 3 wires going to the starter to power acc. others power up off the back of the alternator. VOLTAGE 11.3 is almost a dead battery!!!! You need 12.5v or higher 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Thanks for help.... it is a 76 stingray , yes i replaced the ground from engine to frame. I dont see any fusable links,, i replaced the electric coneector on the 2 accessory wires and did continuity check about 3 feel up from the connector. I ohmed every fuse on the fuse box. i know that batterys not dead because it starts my buddys silverado no problem and stays charged because he has a working alternater. It does absolutley nothing in the vette. I just got the car a couple weeks ago and i believe this is my first post... so thanks to everyone for helping out the newbie.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
OK i didnt know the fusable links were all the way over by the fuse box... should i stick probes on each side of it? ive only had the car 3 weeks and everything else has gone right together, id like to start this pig up and drive it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
The starter has it's own wiring from the alternator that doesn't have anything to do with the fuse box.
Those crappy stock copper-plated aluminum battery cables may be giving you grief. A pair of new Delco cables is about $80, pure copper this time.
Those crappy stock copper-plated aluminum battery cables may be giving you grief. A pair of new Delco cables is about $80, pure copper this time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
I guess it has to be that negative batter cable on the frame. Its weird because i heard the door chime come on and i know it got power for 1 second... How could the battery ground be bad and still get 11.4 volts from the engine block ground? So your telling me these corvettes wont crank or power any accessories without the alternater hooked up? ive never seen this on any other small block chevys.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I guess it has to be that negative batter cable on the frame. Its weird because i heard the door chime come on and i know it got power for 1 second... How could the battery ground be bad and still get 11.4 volts from the engine block ground? So your telling me these corvettes wont crank or power any accessories without the alternater hooked up? ive never seen this on any other small block chevys.
There is a long battery cable running over the driveshaft and a short battery cable dropping down to the frame. The long battery cable is connected directly to the alternator at the starter, through two fuseable links. Starting and battery charging power doesn't have anything to do with the fuse box. You really need to get a wiring diagram so you know where to look for problems without messing with unrelated components.
The battery cables used by GM in many C3 years were aluminum wire plated with copper. They corrode internally and cause all sorts of starting problems. Make sure your ground cable from the battery is connected properly to the frame, and make sure all of the battery/starter contacts are clean.