Yesterday I took the vette out for the first time in a week or so. When around the corner I heard a backfire (I believe it wasout the exhaust) and then the motor died. When that happened I simultaneously blew a few fuses for the gauges and the windows.

I had to tow the car home and now sitting in my driveway it will turn over but won't start. But the windows won't go up and when I replace the fuses and hit the window button it blows the fuses again!

Any help is appreciated!

 

Can help a little. Isolate on ignition system first and check for spark.(Right at this moment,I can't connect the widows to engine not starting,but it could be a circuit breaker that tripped due to overload,shorted wire?).The circuit breakers are usually located at top of fuse panel.

 

Does the window fuse blow as soon as you install it or when you activate the window switch, also is it the left window or right window switch that blows the fuse? Did you smell any burning wire odor? Look under the hood for wires that have shorted out, possibly around the fire wall and bell housing area, or under the dash, by the steering colum or fuse panel. It sounds like you have some wires that have been rubbing and grounded out or come in contact with your exhaust system.

 

back fired then died . i would check for spark then .check timing chain

 

Mine did the same minus the fuse issue. It was the coil.

 

Thanks for the advice, I have been with out internet for a few days. I haven't had a chance to look anything over yet but to answer an earlier question the fuse blows as soon as I hit either of the window buttons.

Thanks

 

I don't know if you have the mechanical tac. but if you do and the drive gear failed, It usually moves the distributor and changes the spark so the engine won't start. (read voice of experience here 64 327)

Check the timing and see if it is on. You can do this while cranking the engine even if it won't start. If this doesn't fix the problem,, you might have a bad timing chain as others suggest. To check this pull the valve cover,, rotate the engine to #1 firing position and confirm the valves are closed. They might be if only 1 tooth is jumped, but this will give a "eye ball check " w/o pulling the timing cover. 99 Nassau Blue

 

Apparently every one didn't read anything but the title. The man also stated that he is blowing fuses for the power windows when he presses the button; I hardly see what a timing gear or the mechanical portion of the tach has to do with this. I would suspect the neg. side of the coil wiring has come into contact with a feed wire going into the car. Just a suggestion. I don't want to seam harsh but there are a lot of people who visit here for help that may think it's possible for a timing chain to blow a fuse. They then take the car to a shop and say it needs a timing chain, shop says OK. They do the work and it still isn't right. Hope everyone understands.


ltlevil

 

Dan,
Did you ever figure out what happened?

 

interesting theory....how does using the power windows and blowing fuses fit into the neg side of the coil grounding out?

 

Okay, check for 12v at the coil. Most likely two wires have shorted. One goes to the ignition in some way. One goes to the accessories such as windows in some way. Whether the ignition has a bad ground or the accessory has a bad ground is unknown. But the backfire was probably unburnt gas in the exhaust igniting due to the heat. Probably more of an affect than a cause of your problem.

I would expect it to be a accessory's ground source and a positive ignition wire.

 

i did read all of it ,at the end it said ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED .when a timing chain skips a tooth or breaks the motor can back fire .the other problems i am not sure of .but i did try to help. if i was wrong we all have to remember this is free advice from strangers that have not seen the car .

 

Thanks for all the help guys! But I have been too busy trying to find a job that I just haven't had the time or patience to even look at the Vette! I'll probably get to it this weekend and will post the results or the lack there of then...

Thanks for everyones help! You guys are the best!

 

are you saying that the coil has wires on it for power accessories?

 

To add fuel to the fire, I was looking at a Corvette manual (1980). It states that if you have several unrelated circuit failures at the same time chances are the power (fuse) or ground circuit is bad. I know that wil probably not help you much, but poor grounds are a big problem with cars, and it might be worth a look. Another suggestion is to check on other circuits that might not be working. One way to check your window circuit is with a volt ohm meter. Pull fuse, turn ignition on and find the 12 vdc side on fuse panel, turn off ignition, set meter to ohm position and check the opposite side of fuse panel for continuity, one lead on the fuse panel connector and the other to a good ground there should be no resistance (it should be open) if there is resistance reading then you have a short between the fuse panel and the two window switches. You can also do this with a test light, connect one end to a 12 vdc source and the other end to your fuse panel side that connects to your window wiring (A pink wire) this wire feeds 12vdc to both window switches. I don't think that your window problem is connected to your starting problem though. Look under your dash real close and make sure that your brake, clutch, and or steering column have not been rubbing against or pinched some of your wires. Also remember the KISS rule Keep it Simple Stupid, it has saved me a lot of greif! These are just suggestions, don't take this to a garage and tell a mechanic to do it! Some people need to lighten up a bit this is a free forum and most of us are here as hobbyists not experts!

 

All I want to know is did a circuit breaker trip ?

 

Ever since I started back at work on Monday I seem to be getting a lot more done at home too. I finally went out and tried to fix the Vette. So I charged the battery and started messing with the fuse box. I notice another fuse that was blown that I didn't see before. So I replace that fuse and the one for the windows. What do ya know the damn thing started right up!!! I'm back on the road!!!! Tomorrow I have to go get new tags, then I am going to wash and wax it and hopefully take some new pics. And maybe a new sig too!!!

 

Good for you Dan, glad it was something simple.