Hi everyone, I just bought a 1976 c3 stingray. Apparently it’s in working condition, but needs electrical work as the back lights and horn do not work. I bought the electrical diagram for that year, but am trying to anticipate the problem before it Arrives. I have an electrician friend who wants to try. Is that a terrible idea to have him look? I know there are certain electrical problems that certain years and models have, does anyone know what might be the problem and how to fix it? I’d be eternally grateful!

 

Yes electrician and plan may work. It is dc instrumentation but theory much the same. Anyone with meter or test light and ability to read plan can do it. Rear lights are probably grounds. Because car fiberglass lot of problem are bad grounds. Same for horn although can be horn contact in steering wheel (which provides ground) or horns are no good. They can be disconnected and tested quite easily. Good Luck

 

thank you so much dude that’s extremely helpful. It’s not letting me type in the text box so I’m responding this way haha! Hopefully it works. I’ll let him try. Do you know how much that would cost mechanic wise if I took it in if not? Thank you again!

 

He’s also never done cars so I’m praying right now. Any idea where we should start? Thank you again so so much

 

When you say back lights are you talking the rear lights or back up lights. If its all the rear lights then it could be ground issue which these cars have a lot of issues with. Could be a bunch of fuses blown, could be the light switch is bad. Have your friend check for power at the rear lights and work from there forward to the switch. If its just back up lights it could be the fuse or the back up light switch itself isnt set right or its bad.

As for the horn do the same thing. It could be the horn relay, bad ground at the horns or they are plugged full of dirt and debris, which mine were. I blew then out with a n air hose and they started working a again.

Te easiset way to work under the dash is to pull the drivers seat out unless you 2 are very flexible and can fit under the dash to get to the fuse panel. If the headlight switch is bad the dash has to come off. You can just take the drivers seat out, undo the steering wheel under the dash an lower it down as far as it goes, undo the screws holding the dsh on and just pull it out far enough to replace the headlight switch. I would buy a new switch if thats the problem from either Willcox or Lectric Limited. Those are the only 2 I trust for electrical switches on these cars. THe headlight switch has to be for your year car and corvette specific as it opens the headlights with a built in vacuum switch as well

 

Get a wiring diagram, or three.

@papawana makes them available on his long-running thread, and you can also find one here:

http://wordpress.keystonestatecorvet...m/?page_id=118

For the horn, it is likely to be the part in the thumbnail of this YouTube video (at least, that was the problem in both of my cars). There are lots of videos showing how to take it apart and put it together.


For the tail-lights, it could be as simple as the ground wire. Hopefully your electrician can show you how to ring-out wires to check continuity and power (it is different in a car, you need a test light to pierce the insulation, the inductive pickups don't work on DC, unless your friend has an expensive multimeter with a DC current clamp). For $50- in tools, you'll quickly become the expert yourself.

Please post some photos!

 

just remember. fiberglass is a lousy electrical conductor. so everything not bolted to the engine or the frame needs a ground path. and just cuz you see the ground wire, doesn't mean it works. a lot of electrical issues are simply corrosion between the ground wire and the light socket or the frame end. also corrosion inside socket not allowing bulb to connect.

 

Wow thank you guys so much, this has been extremely helpful. I’m hoping he knows what he’s doing when removing things in the vehicle itself. If it’s just the ground wire issue, or any of the other issues mentioned, what am I looking at cost wise with a mechanic bc I’d rather not destroy the car any further!!?? Does anyone know? Either way, you’ve all been super helpful will upload pics soon and comment back individually.

 

I don’t know I believe the rear lights in general. Got the car from grautogallery.com. Really excited and appreciate all of your help. I’d rather take it to a mechanic bc I’m afraid we’re going to destroy the car further, but I did buy the diagram and he does work with things along the same voltage and has the testing gear. As long as he can safely remove the seat, etc. I’m down to try it and would love to learn anyways! Thank you so much again!

 

thank you so much, got the diagram! Pray for me! Thanks for the video that’s perfect I’m praying it’s a minor issue! I will post photos the second it arrives from Michigan!

 

thanks so much any idea what I’d be spending on that specific issue with a mechanic? He’s a friend but needs to make his money too so not too discounted.

 

100 bucks an hour for him to try to figure it out. every minute he is trying to download electrical diagrams since he has none is 100 bucks an hour. this is not a daily driver i assume. research the job here, google, youtube. ebay used parts have lots of good pics.

 

here are some from
the place I purchased!

 

how does she look over all?

 

I would not use a mechanic like dereck said. At 75-150/hour the bill will be so expensive you'll have to sell the car to pay it

 

hear ya thank you so much that’s my plan. I’d love to learn overall.

 

I hear you thank you so much! If it’s doable I’m game to learn and figure it out with my mechanic friend. Praying nothing else is wrong! Please see pics guys, maybe you’ll find something. Either way I appreciate the love and help!

 

Sharp looking car and good advice above. I would tackle the rear light-problem first to get some Wiring Diagram experience.
FYI...when I followed a specific wiring path in the diagram I used ink pens which were the color of the wires in question and colorized them. It didn't take much extra time...and I didn't "get lost" following black lines that changed direction 10 times!
OR in the future buy a colorized/laminated wiring diagram for your car-year different wiring problems persist.

(It gets complicated if you have to remove the steering wheel as a Last Resort in order to solve the horn issue)

 

Auto electrical shops are very expensive. Specialty thing. Most in Canada are 90-110 /hr. They don't necessarily find problem right away so costs can get up to 1000 quickly

 

and then it was a loose wire!