77 won’t start, no lights no power
01-13-2018, 05:36 PM
#1
77 won’t start, no lights no power
when I turn my key on my 77 I get nothing (no dash lights. No power anywhere). I connected the starter terminals with a screw driver and with the key in the on position and the starter turned and also gave me power back in the car. It started right up after that. I drove it around, turning it off and starting it back up about four times and it seemed fine. I let it sit for about and hour or two and it did the same thing, no start, no dash lights, no power anywhere. I tried to engage the starter with a screw driver again and it engaged but it’s not giving me power back or letting me start the car. Any ideas?
01-14-2018, 08:54 AM
#3
Instructor
01-14-2018, 10:58 AM
#6
Burning Brakes
Had the exact same problem with my 77 ! Went in to the shop preparing for the last hurricane that came thru Florida! Was rearranging the shop to get a friends Vette inside and when I went to start mine I had nothing ! 
I ended up having to push mine because I didn't have the time right then to figure it out !
After the storm I went in to start to figure it out ! Turns out to be the fusible link going to the starter ! Either a PO or his friend Bubba had cut the wire and then taped it together and covered it with the wire harness and it wasn't even still together as well as connector at the end of the wire fell off when I took it loose !
After a new wire connector, some solder and heat shrink and it is just like new !
Take note that there is no fuse in the wire , the wire itself is the fusible link ! It is not like any other wire in your car as it is designed to "break " if there is a short in your ignition system ! If you replace it it must be replaced with the exact same type of wire or you take the chance of a fire in your car !
Let us know what it turns out to be and hope you can figure it out quickly!
Best regards!
I ended up having to push mine because I didn't have the time right then to figure it out !
After the storm I went in to start to figure it out ! Turns out to be the fusible link going to the starter ! Either a PO or his friend Bubba had cut the wire and then taped it together and covered it with the wire harness and it wasn't even still together as well as connector at the end of the wire fell off when I took it loose !
After a new wire connector, some solder and heat shrink and it is just like new !
Take note that there is no fuse in the wire , the wire itself is the fusible link ! It is not like any other wire in your car as it is designed to "break " if there is a short in your ignition system ! If you replace it it must be replaced with the exact same type of wire or you take the chance of a fire in your car !
Let us know what it turns out to be and hope you can figure it out quickly!
Best regards!
01-14-2018, 11:23 AM
#7
Pro
After you're satisfied that all connections are clean and secure make sure the neutral safety switch, if so equipped, is adjusted properly and the same for the ignition switch at the end of the steering column. If everything checks properly I would pull the starter and check the solenoid and the condition of the brushes in the starter. If you have decent set of jumper cables you can jump across the big lug on the top of the solenoid to the small lug to the bottom right as you're facing the front of the starter. It would be helpful to have someone hold the starer as it will want to jump with power applied. IMHO, the solenoid is the weakest link in any GM starter circuit.
In the original starter in my 76 the brushes were badly worn and the solenoid was shorted which to me was very unusual as all others I've dealt with over the years the solenoids have been open.
In the original starter in my 76 the brushes were badly worn and the solenoid was shorted which to me was very unusual as all others I've dealt with over the years the solenoids have been open.
