73 Electrical Problem - Not mine, helping a buddy
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
73 Electrical Problem - Not mine, helping a buddy
Howdy,
I normally spend my time on the C1/C2 forum, but an acquaintance from the Jaguar forum has a problem with his 73 and he's not yet a member of this fine forum.
So, here's his question which I'm posting on his behalf:
"I have a C-3 Vette, 1973, don't drive it much, just take it to shows occasionally. Went to drive it today, battery was weak, put a charger on it with engine assist and it started. I let the engine turn off without meaning to and now it is totally dead!
Put another battery in it, same thing.
Is there a fusible link that could have blown? Seems like this happened to me years ago. I've got something in my hand that is a 3-prong relay(?) that was on the passenger side, close to the firewall. It says thermal on it. Seems like this was it. Anyway to test it with a meter? Gotta get it back in the garage!!! Jim"
Thank you all in advance for your replies.
Jeff
I normally spend my time on the C1/C2 forum, but an acquaintance from the Jaguar forum has a problem with his 73 and he's not yet a member of this fine forum.
So, here's his question which I'm posting on his behalf:
"I have a C-3 Vette, 1973, don't drive it much, just take it to shows occasionally. Went to drive it today, battery was weak, put a charger on it with engine assist and it started. I let the engine turn off without meaning to and now it is totally dead!
Put another battery in it, same thing.
Is there a fusible link that could have blown? Seems like this happened to me years ago. I've got something in my hand that is a 3-prong relay(?) that was on the passenger side, close to the firewall. It says thermal on it. Seems like this was it. Anyway to test it with a meter? Gotta get it back in the garage!!! Jim"
Thank you all in advance for your replies.
Jeff
Last edited by 62Jeff; Dec 24, 2007 at 10:51 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Howdy,
I normally spend my time on the C1/C2 forum, but an acquaintance from the Jaguar forum has a problem with his 73 and he's not yet a member of this fine forum.
So, here's his question which I'm posting on his behalf:
"I have a C-3 Vette, 1973, don't drive it much, just take it to shows occasionally. Went to drive it today, battery was weak, put a charger on it with engine assist and it started. I let the engine turn off without meaning to and now it is totally dead!
Put another battery in it, same thing.
Is there a fusible link that could have blown? Seems like this happened to me years ago. I've got something in my hand that is a 3-prong relay(?) that was on the passenger side, close to the firewall. It says thermal on it. Seems like this was it. Anyway to test it with a meter? Gotta get it back in the garage!!! Jim"
Thank you all in advance for your replies.
Jeff
I normally spend my time on the C1/C2 forum, but an acquaintance from the Jaguar forum has a problem with his 73 and he's not yet a member of this fine forum.
So, here's his question which I'm posting on his behalf:
"I have a C-3 Vette, 1973, don't drive it much, just take it to shows occasionally. Went to drive it today, battery was weak, put a charger on it with engine assist and it started. I let the engine turn off without meaning to and now it is totally dead!
Put another battery in it, same thing.
Is there a fusible link that could have blown? Seems like this happened to me years ago. I've got something in my hand that is a 3-prong relay(?) that was on the passenger side, close to the firewall. It says thermal on it. Seems like this was it. Anyway to test it with a meter? Gotta get it back in the garage!!! Jim"
Thank you all in advance for your replies.
Jeff
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
My buddy followed up with this:
"After screwing around with everything I could think of, and I seriously doubt if this had anything to do with it, I tapped the starter with a hammer.
Started right up. I got it in the garage, turned it off and it is dead again. At least I got it in the garage."
"After screwing around with everything I could think of, and I seriously doubt if this had anything to do with it, I tapped the starter with a hammer.
Started right up. I got it in the garage, turned it off and it is dead again. At least I got it in the garage."
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
had the same problem on a 76 about a month ago - turned out to be the ground cable where it attaches to the frame, all the wire strands had corroded inside the cable and when i yanked on it it just completely broke off.
hope this helps.
hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
Thank you all for your help thus far. I've directed my buddy to this thread and he's reading your posts.
And yes - wiener dogs rock as pets, and make great sources of innuendo-based humor (I go home every night and stroke my big wiener.........dogs)
Jeff
And yes - wiener dogs rock as pets, and make great sources of innuendo-based humor (I go home every night and stroke my big wiener.........dogs)
Jeff
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
Being you have to hit the starter with a hammer to get the car started I would have to guess that you either have a bad solenoid or a dead spot in the starter. This happens with starters over time from wear and tear but I have also seen it happen to cars that sit for a long period of time outside in the elements. Sometimes it could also be that the positive cable is loose at the solenoid. If it is don't over tighten it or you will crack the solenoid and have to buy another. Check for a loose ground cable also but the hitting with a hammer thing is the giveaway here I would have to say.
When I read the first post of this thread I was ready to recommend that you go out and get a Milton #1260 type of battery tester w/load tester. I usually recommend this tool to everyone working on their own car. Saves a lot of headaches when determining whether the problem is a bad battery or the charging system. Its a tool a mechanic shouldn't be without. Mine has paid for itself hundreds of times over the many years that I have had it. Not very expensive either to own.
When I read the first post of this thread I was ready to recommend that you go out and get a Milton #1260 type of battery tester w/load tester. I usually recommend this tool to everyone working on their own car. Saves a lot of headaches when determining whether the problem is a bad battery or the charging system. Its a tool a mechanic shouldn't be without. Mine has paid for itself hundreds of times over the many years that I have had it. Not very expensive either to own.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
My guess is that there are two problems here - a bad starter and bad battery cables (or a lousy connection). Quite a few C3s had battery cables made of copper-plated aluminum wire (and the cheap parts-store cables are often still made this way). They corrode internally after a number of years.
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