1972 Coupe Electrical Issue
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1972 Coupe Electrical Issue
Hey guys/gals,
I have a 1972 Corvette coupe (base 350/auto).I had a strange issue the other night after an hour and a half cruise.
It was getting dark so I pulled up the lights and the car simply died. Good thing I was just cruising at 15 mph.
When I pulled on the headlight switch, I lost all electrical power to the interior and the motor eventually stalled after a few seconds. The power came back after 30 seconds to a minute when I was in the hood touching the 3 starter wires. I was then able to get in the car, pull up the light on high beam again and they worked just fine. I can't reproduce the problem all the time. Sometimes it shuts off, sometimes it works great. All the wires are bolted tight to the starter.
Any ideas where I can start looking for the issue?
Thanks again.
Oakley_77
I have a 1972 Corvette coupe (base 350/auto).I had a strange issue the other night after an hour and a half cruise.
It was getting dark so I pulled up the lights and the car simply died. Good thing I was just cruising at 15 mph.
When I pulled on the headlight switch, I lost all electrical power to the interior and the motor eventually stalled after a few seconds. The power came back after 30 seconds to a minute when I was in the hood touching the 3 starter wires. I was then able to get in the car, pull up the light on high beam again and they worked just fine. I can't reproduce the problem all the time. Sometimes it shuts off, sometimes it works great. All the wires are bolted tight to the starter.
Any ideas where I can start looking for the issue?
Thanks again.
Oakley_77
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Probably a main battery cable or grounding cable issue. Check the wires and connections on the battery cables. Also check the grounding cable from starter mount to motor mount (right side).
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Thanks for the reply 7T1vette.
I checked my cables going to the battery and going to the starter. They all look like they're in good shape. So, I started the car with the headlights on and moved the wires. The motor ran perfectly.
I was wondering if it could be the headlights switch itself? I am almost certain that the engine only stalls when I turn on the headlights and they are set to high beams?
What do you guys think?
I checked my cables going to the battery and going to the starter. They all look like they're in good shape. So, I started the car with the headlights on and moved the wires. The motor ran perfectly.
I was wondering if it could be the headlights switch itself? I am almost certain that the engine only stalls when I turn on the headlights and they are set to high beams?
What do you guys think?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
I don't believe there is any way that the motor will stall due to any defect in the headlight switch (unless the dash catches fire and you turn off the key). It most likely is a wiring problem in the area of the starter motor.
Tug on the fusible links to see if they are still intact. (If a fuse-link is 'toast', all that's left will be the insulation...no wire.)
Tug on the fusible links to see if they are still intact. (If a fuse-link is 'toast', all that's left will be the insulation...no wire.)
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
The fuses won't come back , the fusible links will not come back.
Last edited by ...Roger...; Oct 23, 2010 at 12:37 PM.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 132
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From: Pioneer California
I wish I had a real fix for the problem, intermittent problems are hard to trace.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Covington, Virginia
One thing that might help....if you are under the hood or in the car twisting wires around??? use a flashlight/worklight to put your hand on the wires.....then douse the light...jiggle away....look for sparkies....nothing there?? worklight back on, grab somewhere else...
While you are looking, search for wires with insulation disturbed, either from heat, vibration or mechanical removal....
While you are looking, search for wires with insulation disturbed, either from heat, vibration or mechanical removal....
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
DUH! My bad. I meant to say if the issue happened with the use of the tilt lever, it may have interfered with the rack and rod to the ignition switch.
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Thanks for all the replies.
I am currently waiting on a new headlight switch.
I hope this fixes the issue. But, for some reason, i have a feeling that it's something else.
I searched pretty much everywhere to see if anyone else experienced this issue but I seem to be the only lucky one...haha
I am currently waiting on a new headlight switch.
I hope this fixes the issue. But, for some reason, i have a feeling that it's something else.
I searched pretty much everywhere to see if anyone else experienced this issue but I seem to be the only lucky one...haha
