Need Help With My 77

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Mar 15, 2015 | 10:07 PM

Vette5X

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From: M TN

Need Help With My 77

So I got the 77 out today. Drove it around and started it 3 or 4 times with no issues. Then went to dinner... came out and everything was completely dead... not even a dome light. Checked battery connections, ground wire from battery to frame and tried to start for about 30 minutes but still dead with no dash lights, brake lights nothing. Called AAA and got it home on a roll back. Opened the door to put it in neutral and the dome light came on and it started! Shut it off, tried to get in and move it 10 minutes later and dead again. Waited another 10 or so and dome light came on and started. Put it inthe garage and now it's completely dead again. Got my Optima charger on it and the battery seems fine so I guess I have some sort of electrical issue. Any ideas of where to start the hunt? Anybody have a similar experience? Thanks in advance for any help.

Mar 15, 2015 | 10:20 PM

SIXFOOTER

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Boca Raton Florida

Follow the wires from the starter to the main harness as well as the battery connector at the starter and the main ground from the frame to the starter under the drivers side motor mount.

Mar 16, 2015 | 12:28 AM

Doug's 77

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From: Corona Ca

Check the wires going to the fuse box looking straight down the firewall standing at the driver side fender. I Had a similar problem with mine and found a bad connection there.

Mar 21, 2015 | 09:10 AM

Vette5X

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From: M TN

Thanks for the tip Doug. I wiggled that group of wires at the firewall and that is def where the problem is. Im an ok mechanical guy but wiring is not my forte. It appears these wires are coming from the alternator. Am I looking at replacing the whole bunch or can the loose connection at the firewall be fixed? Also... did you have to remove the brake booster to work on it? It's pretty tight. Sorry for all the rookie questions,

Mar 21, 2015 | 09:10 PM

Doug's 77

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From: Corona Ca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette5X

I was able to narrow it down to one bad wire connector although it was very difficult I was able to repair it with the booster in place. it would definitely be easier with the booster removed.

Mar 22, 2015 | 01:46 PM

jimvette999

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From: Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette5X

If you're truly in the right area, there's a bolt that sandwiches the halves of the fuseblock, it's in the center of the fuseblock inside the car. Disconnect the battery and pull the outside half of the fuseblock off and examine it. I think its doubtful that there's anything wrong there, corrosion inhibitor is applied to the terminals at the factory...however, it does allow you to pull that section of the harness up, out to inspect it. I would encourage you to look in the same area with a good light for possible connection wiring issues and leave the master and brake booster alone....it's not the battery so you can stop charging it. It's going to be a large wire feed and not a small 12-14 ga wire so concentrate on the larger wires, the wires connected to the alternator to the starter....fusable links. If your key buzzer still works, battery connected, use that audible sound to see if moving wires causes loss of power, restored power....that would be a way to know your in the right area.
Jim

Mar 24, 2015 | 05:10 PM

Vette5X

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From: M TN

Thanks for the insights Jim. The area in question is the block of wires coming into the firewall just inside of the drivers side fender and near the top of the firewall. When I wiggle those wires things go on and off. I'll be digging into it further this weekend although I am not looking forward to it.

Mar 25, 2015 | 01:41 AM

kdf1986

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Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Lakeland Florida

The good news is that you have isolated and found the problem for your intermittent start.

The bad news is that you have isolated and found the problem for your intermittent start.

If its in the bank of wires that goes to the fuseblock, do you think it just needs to be reset. Taking the connectors out, and then replugging them back in to make a good connection.

kdf