Electrical Issues
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 66
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From: Alvin, Texas
Electrical Issues
Had my '78 out friday and all was well. Preparing the car for a show, did a bit of cleaning up but nothing else but cleaning. On my way to meet a friend before the show I had not radio, clock or courtesy lights. Strange as everything worked Fridy night.
Had a chance to check a few things and all the fuses looked good, checked the easy stuff first. My test light showed the left side of my fuse box getting juice but no power on the right side where the A/C-heater, radio, wiper etc are. Can't figue out why the one side of the fuse box is not getting power. Thought it might be an inline fuse but have no idea where it would be. Has anyone had a similar problem? Any and all suggestions on a fix would be appreciated. Thank you. MrM
Had a chance to check a few things and all the fuses looked good, checked the easy stuff first. My test light showed the left side of my fuse box getting juice but no power on the right side where the A/C-heater, radio, wiper etc are. Can't figue out why the one side of the fuse box is not getting power. Thought it might be an inline fuse but have no idea where it would be. Has anyone had a similar problem? Any and all suggestions on a fix would be appreciated. Thank you. MrM
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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On my model year one side is hot, the other is controlled through the ignition switch. Either you have a bad connection, a disconnected wire or a bad ignition switch. Try using the acc position of the switch ( switched backwards from off). That would give you power to that side.
The way it just died I'm guessing the switch went bad.
The way it just died I'm guessing the switch went bad.
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Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Alvin, Texas
Thanks very much. Just tried the ACC and none of the items mentioned work. Will check connections then the switch. Is there a way to check the switch prior to just changing it out? Thanks.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,209
Likes: 9,348
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Maybe willcox has a video.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Had my '78 out friday and all was well. Preparing the car for a show, did a bit of cleaning up but nothing else but cleaning. On my way to meet a friend before the show I had not radio, clock or courtesy lights. Strange as everything worked Fridy night.
Had a chance to check a few things and all the fuses looked good, checked the easy stuff first. My test light showed the left side of my fuse box getting juice but no power on the right side where the A/C-heater, radio, wiper etc are. Can't figue out why the one side of the fuse box is not getting power. Thought it might be an inline fuse but have no idea where it would be. Has anyone had a similar problem? Any and all suggestions on a fix would be appreciated. Thank you. MrM
Had a chance to check a few things and all the fuses looked good, checked the easy stuff first. My test light showed the left side of my fuse box getting juice but no power on the right side where the A/C-heater, radio, wiper etc are. Can't figue out why the one side of the fuse box is not getting power. Thought it might be an inline fuse but have no idea where it would be. Has anyone had a similar problem? Any and all suggestions on a fix would be appreciated. Thank you. MrM
If so, remove the fuse and test it in your hand for continuity.... if the fuse is good then I'd clean the contacts the fuse pushes into. Hopefully that will fix your issue. Below I've posted you the factory schematic for the courtesy clock circuit.
-Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; May 4, 2016 at 10:04 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 66
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From: Alvin, Texas
Just got in and saw your post, thank you. I will check the fuse you mentioned and go from there. Question-if it was that one fuse, wouldn't the rest of the fuses on the right side of the box have power?
I had a disconnected orange wire along the driver's side fender that I think goes to the alarm but has not been hooked up since I bought the car. This week-end I was checking some of the vacuum lines and I bumped the wire and it sparked so it was getting power. All this seemed to happen just after the wire sparked, maybe coincidence. But checked the same wire tonight and it did not light up my test light, no juice. This orange wire goes into the firewall to somewhere under the dash. Thoughts?
I had a disconnected orange wire along the driver's side fender that I think goes to the alarm but has not been hooked up since I bought the car. This week-end I was checking some of the vacuum lines and I bumped the wire and it sparked so it was getting power. All this seemed to happen just after the wire sparked, maybe coincidence. But checked the same wire tonight and it did not light up my test light, no juice. This orange wire goes into the firewall to somewhere under the dash. Thoughts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 254
From: Downers Grove Illinois
Just got in and saw your post, thank you. I will check the fuse you mentioned and go from there. Question-if it was that one fuse, wouldn't the rest of the fuses on the right side of the box have power?
I had a disconnected orange wire along the driver's side fender that I think goes to the alarm but has not been hooked up since I bought the car. This week-end I was checking some of the vacuum lines and I bumped the wire and it sparked so it was getting power. All this seemed to happen just after the wire sparked, maybe coincidence. But checked the same wire tonight and it did not light up my test light, no juice. This orange wire goes into the firewall to somewhere under the dash. Thoughts?
I had a disconnected orange wire along the driver's side fender that I think goes to the alarm but has not been hooked up since I bought the car. This week-end I was checking some of the vacuum lines and I bumped the wire and it sparked so it was getting power. All this seemed to happen just after the wire sparked, maybe coincidence. But checked the same wire tonight and it did not light up my test light, no juice. This orange wire goes into the firewall to somewhere under the dash. Thoughts?
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Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,209
Likes: 9,348
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I agree, not a coincidence. Tape off that orange line before you replace any fuses
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Here is a tracer schematic you can use to find the issue. The 12 gauge red wire feeds power to the right side of the block and if you follow that wire to the starter you'll probably find your issue.
If you right click on this picture and hen copy and paste it to your paint program, you can trace circuits very easily.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; May 5, 2016 at 12:17 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 66
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From: Alvin, Texas
First thank you all very much for the input. This site and all the great help is refreshing and I really appreciate all the help, suggestions and sincerity in the posts. And of course patience with a newbie like me. I did check three fusable links I found, one under the hood and two near the starter. They seemed to be OK but kind of hard to tell. I did pull on it a bit and it stayed together and looked good so I left it alone.
Bought a pack of fuses and began pulling the old ones and replacing with new with a bit of dielectric grease on each end. Even though they looked good, they were not and when I changed the radio fuse the cd in the player popped out and the courtesy lights came on. So all is good nd right in the universe and we have tunes and lights. Clock it ticking again as well. So again I thank you all for the help and suggestions and I have added the wiring diagrams to my shop manual. I am having another small issue with low idle but will create another post to get your suggestions.
Bought a pack of fuses and began pulling the old ones and replacing with new with a bit of dielectric grease on each end. Even though they looked good, they were not and when I changed the radio fuse the cd in the player popped out and the courtesy lights came on. So all is good nd right in the universe and we have tunes and lights. Clock it ticking again as well. So again I thank you all for the help and suggestions and I have added the wiring diagrams to my shop manual. I am having another small issue with low idle but will create another post to get your suggestions.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
First thank you all very much for the input. This site and all the great help is refreshing and I really appreciate all the help, suggestions and sincerity in the posts. And of course patience with a newbie like me. I did check three fusable links I found, one under the hood and two near the starter. They seemed to be OK but kind of hard to tell. I did pull on it a bit and it stayed together and looked good so I left it alone.
Bought a pack of fuses and began pulling the old ones and replacing with new with a bit of dielectric grease on each end. Even though they looked good, they were not and when I changed the radio fuse the cd in the player popped out and the courtesy lights came on. So all is good nd right in the universe and we have tunes and lights. Clock it ticking again as well. So again I thank you all for the help and suggestions and I have added the wiring diagrams to my shop manual. I am having another small issue with low idle but will create another post to get your suggestions.
Bought a pack of fuses and began pulling the old ones and replacing with new with a bit of dielectric grease on each end. Even though they looked good, they were not and when I changed the radio fuse the cd in the player popped out and the courtesy lights came on. So all is good nd right in the universe and we have tunes and lights. Clock it ticking again as well. So again I thank you all for the help and suggestions and I have added the wiring diagrams to my shop manual. I am having another small issue with low idle but will create another post to get your suggestions.
Willcox