Wiring Issues
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Wiring Issues
So I have hit another snag with my recent purchase. There was starting issues when I bought the car, the P.O. told me that the battery was probably dead because the car was sitting....ok. Took the car in, new battery, new ignition switch.......same problem.
The car will start, then when I drive somewhere and turn it off, it won't even turn over, ten min later it will start again. Checked the starter....not the problem, checked the ground....not the problem.
Took it into the Corvette shop I have been using and he said I need to replace all 4 wiring harnesses. I am not opposed to this but right now after new brakes and everything I have already spent an additional $4,000.00 on the car since I bought it three weeks ago and can't spend another $4,000.00 at this time.
Is there a more cost effective work around, I was planning on having the car gutted, new interior and paint next winter.
The car will start, then when I drive somewhere and turn it off, it won't even turn over, ten min later it will start again. Checked the starter....not the problem, checked the ground....not the problem.
Took it into the Corvette shop I have been using and he said I need to replace all 4 wiring harnesses. I am not opposed to this but right now after new brakes and everything I have already spent an additional $4,000.00 on the car since I bought it three weeks ago and can't spend another $4,000.00 at this time.
Is there a more cost effective work around, I was planning on having the car gutted, new interior and paint next winter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
we need a more complete description of the problem. does it crank and not catch? is it completely dead? is the heat causing vapor lock? is it flooding? how was the starter checked?
i doubt that you all new wiring harnesses because this is your only problem (i hope). as a test connect a remote start switch to the starter and see if that eliminates the problem of hot starts. if the problem persists, it's not the harness.
i doubt that you all new wiring harnesses because this is your only problem (i hope). as a test connect a remote start switch to the starter and see if that eliminates the problem of hot starts. if the problem persists, it's not the harness.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
we need a more complete description of the problem. does it crank and not catch? is it completely dead? is the heat causing vapor lock? is it flooding? how was the starter checked?
i doubt that you all new wiring harnesses because this is your only problem (i hope). as a test connect a remote start switch to the starter and see if that eliminates the problem of hot starts. if the problem persists, it's not the harness.
i doubt that you all new wiring harnesses because this is your only problem (i hope). as a test connect a remote start switch to the starter and see if that eliminates the problem of hot starts. if the problem persists, it's not the harness.
The starter was checked with the diode (probe), as soon as he hit the starter with the probe it would fire up.
I just got off the phone with my mechanic and he is going to pull the fuze block to see what kind of corrosion there is and hopefully there isn't any melted plastic. If he is able he is going to salvage some terminals from other harnessed and swap them out. **fingers crossed**
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Maybe a little over simplified but have had issues with battery connections not being tight enough.....postitive and ground Just sayin.
Last edited by 73Corvette; Mar 29, 2012 at 09:42 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
as mike said it couild be heat soak of the solenoid. it could be a doa new battery. it could be low alternator output or a slow battery drain causing the completely dead symptoms. i'd clean and tighten all the connections-battery, chassis ground, starter, and engine grounds.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Just got off the phone with the mechanic, there was bad connections from the harness into the fuse block. He pulled it and said its the first time in 20 years he pulled one that wasn't damaged or melted. He is going to clean it, treat it and add some new terminals.
I guess I dodged a bullet there, only going to run about $1,000 for that and my gauge consol stereo/speaker install and not an additional $4,000 for new harnesses.
I guess I dodged a bullet there, only going to run about $1,000 for that and my gauge consol stereo/speaker install and not an additional $4,000 for new harnesses.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Just a heads up for future work.
95% of the repairs on these cars can be performed by any experienced mechanic. A specific corvette shop is not needed.
From your parts list and last post, you may be able to save some cash on repairs.
95% of the repairs on these cars can be performed by any experienced mechanic. A specific corvette shop is not needed.
From your parts list and last post, you may be able to save some cash on repairs.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Just got off the phone with the mechanic, there was bad connections from the harness into the fuse block. He pulled it and said its the first time in 20 years he pulled one that wasn't damaged or melted. He is going to clean it, treat it and add some new terminals.
I guess I dodged a bullet there, only going to run about $1,000 for that and my gauge consol stereo/speaker install and not an additional $4,000 for new harnesses.
I guess I dodged a bullet there, only going to run about $1,000 for that and my gauge consol stereo/speaker install and not an additional $4,000 for new harnesses.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Just got off the phone with the mechanic, there was bad connections from the harness into the fuse block. He pulled it and said its the first time in 20 years he pulled one that wasn't damaged or melted. He is going to clean it, treat it and add some new terminals.
I guess I dodged a bullet there, only going to run about $1,000 for that and my gauge consol stereo/speaker install and not an additional $4,000 for new harnesses.
I guess I dodged a bullet there, only going to run about $1,000 for that and my gauge consol stereo/speaker install and not an additional $4,000 for new harnesses.
It's kinda like you saved that much right?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
My fiance is pretty damn amazing (which is why I am marrying her), let me temporarilly borrow a little from the wedding budget, so if anything else goes wrong with the car between now and August.....I am SOL.
Her family owns a hot rod shop in Illinois (Getz Hot Rods), I was thinking about talking to them at the wedding about having the car re-done, would be the best wedding present I could think of....lol.
Ohh and about the mechanic pricing, I have to shop around a bit, the shop I have been using speacalize in C3s and is $105/hour, it is worth it to have that expertise at my disposal and I am told around $100 an hour is pretty standard in the Northern Virginia area.
Last edited by 75_Stinger; Mar 29, 2012 at 11:56 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Just got a call, the car is running perfect again, it was the wiring running into the fuse block. He is just finishing up the CD player install and going to button up the dash and I could have it back tonight, just in time to enjoy it this weekend.....YAY!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
Everything is good to go now, bad connections from the harness to the fuse block were the problem. The car is FINALLY running the way it is supposed to. Hopefully i will be able to keep the car on the road for more than three days in a row since I owned it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Shelby NC
