Dear fellows,

In advance I thank you for any help I can get with my 1980 Corvette. I am not very savvy when it comes to electrical issues, however; with your input, I am sure I can give it a fair shot. So here is my problem:

-Last Fall I stored my corvette with everything working just fine. Every light, everything.

One week ago I go to bring the Vette out of winter sleep, I install the battery and I noticed the following while I turn key to ignition and trying to start the car:

-Starter runs normal, car does not start despite having fuel in carb. but NO spark (I checked by removing cable and connecting spark plug-grounded-). Antitheft fuse is GOOD.
-There is for sure 12v to distributor
-Defog light is on, can't switch off, the fan runs normal with speed at 0 but not higher speed with the speed switch.
-Generator light does NOT come on
-Tach does not move (does not drop as it usually does when turn key to ign)
-fuel and temp gauge are completely out of whack and battery gauge shows nothing and wipers do not work (I read gauge cluster and wipers ground thru the same terminal?) although wiper fuse is GOOD.

Anyhow, I opened the distributor to tackle the non-starting issue, definitely no spark but consider the following:
-HEI Coil: Primary and Secondary give good resistance readings and tested all the way to the pin(carbon), also rotor looks good, everything looks normal.
-Ignition Module I just put a brand new one just in case
-I tried to start the car and nothing, no spark, same electrical gremlins as above.

Can you help me please? I am not sure if all of the sudden in winter sleep my car developed 2 issues (the gauge issues and no spark) or if it is only one issue that is causing it all.

I am out of my depth here guys, but with your help I am sure I can test as you suggest things.
Many thanks in advance!!!!!

 

Could you have experienced a problem with mice eating some wires? Seems very odd that you can’t get the engine started, plus strange issues with gauges.

 

you know, it’s a great possibility, i didn’t find any mice droppings this year, but mice have made it inside the car before, so maybe a cable(s) were chewed before and only over winter they completely broke?

 

Try testing for power on all your fuses with the key on

 

How are you checking for 12 volts at the distributor? You should be checking it with a voltmeter back probed to the distributor "B+" (not the "BAT") terminal while cranking to ensure you're getting 12 volts under load. Are you sure that rotor is good? Bad rotors are notorious for no spark with an HEI.
Hint: gauges and distributor power are on the same buss line on the 80.