Random Electrical/start/light issue
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Random Electrical/start/light issue
Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone has seen something like this before.
1971 Coupe. 383 Resto-mod
On the last few drives, there has been a brief moment of what I called an "electrical stutter". She would seem like she was about to die, but then keep running, but all of the gauges and lights would flicker and the stereo would reboot.
Now it has gotten worse. Occasionally, I can open my door and none of the interior or exterior lights come on and the car will not even attempt to start. Everything appears to be completely dead as if the battery was disconnected. Most of the time, however, everything works just fine and she starts right up.
A few nights ago I went out to start her just to let her run for a while since she had been sitting for two weeks, and once again, nothing was working.
I checked the battery, ground connections from the battery, I wiggled the starter connections, grounding wire to the engine, wiggled the fuse box looking for something, but nothing worked. I sat in the front seat, not moving, not touching anything and all of a sudden the interior lights came back on and I was able to start her right up.
I didn't have my volt meter at the time, but I will use it to check voltage when it happens again.
Just wondering if anyone has seen something like this before or has recommendations for me to check.
Thanks
KO
I was wondering if anyone has seen something like this before.
1971 Coupe. 383 Resto-mod
On the last few drives, there has been a brief moment of what I called an "electrical stutter". She would seem like she was about to die, but then keep running, but all of the gauges and lights would flicker and the stereo would reboot.
Now it has gotten worse. Occasionally, I can open my door and none of the interior or exterior lights come on and the car will not even attempt to start. Everything appears to be completely dead as if the battery was disconnected. Most of the time, however, everything works just fine and she starts right up.
A few nights ago I went out to start her just to let her run for a while since she had been sitting for two weeks, and once again, nothing was working.
I checked the battery, ground connections from the battery, I wiggled the starter connections, grounding wire to the engine, wiggled the fuse box looking for something, but nothing worked. I sat in the front seat, not moving, not touching anything and all of a sudden the interior lights came back on and I was able to start her right up.
I didn't have my volt meter at the time, but I will use it to check voltage when it happens again.
Just wondering if anyone has seen something like this before or has recommendations for me to check.
Thanks
KO
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
look for bad or corrided battery posts and cables. check ground cable from frame to engine also. as a start. also the fuse panel may have a bad connection between the firewall connections. have you done any work to the car lately? need any history on the car to help us help you.
Last edited by lvmyvt76; Dec 15, 2016 at 05:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
look for bad or corrided battery posts and cables. check ground cable from frame to engine also. as a start. also the fuse panel may have a bad connection between the firewall connections. have you done any work to the car lately? need any history on the car to help us help you.
All of those things look good so far, but she's working correctly right now.
You can say I've done a few modifications.
Here is a bit of history on some of the things I've done.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...a-71-pics.html
.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
Check the wires at the horn relay. Get a schematic of the wiring. The power comes from the battery to the starter, thru a large red wire to the horn relay, to the firewall connector, then the fuse panel. There are several fusible links that may have heated and be making intermittent contact. Connect a test light to the fuse panel (Bat Lug) and place it where it can be seen. Then start pulling and twisting wires. If you're lucky, the light will flicker when the bad wire is yanked.
