Rather than bury this in the previous thread...here is an update on the 80 electrical problem...and help needed. I found that several of the issues were not related (different causes). Still have one that I can not figure out...

The Blower Motor does not work... According to the shop manual it should be on LOW if the air is set on AC, Vent or Heater. It should also be on LOW via the bypass circut. Regardless, it is not working.

* I've Ohm'ed out the motor and it is OK
* Verified that the positive lead has 12 volts into the blower
* blower second wire appears to be a ground...shouldn't it run based on these unless it is the ground that receives the "switch" for activation thus it's not being connected to ground via a relay or something???


* NOTE... the odd situation is that when I installed my dual SPAL fans, I connected the ignition switched 12 volt lead to the blower brown wire and it worked great. Now the blower brown wire is getting 12 volts all the time (ignition on or off).


The stereo is also now getting power all the time (ignition on or off)....

* have replaced the blower relay just to be certain that it was not the issue.... now I'm at a loss...


ANY IDEAS????? or has anyone experienced this???

Also... Air Conditioning clutch does not engage...

 

Does it work if you disconnect the dual spals?

 

No... Spals are only using the 12 volt from the brown wire as the ignition trigger source....well.. it was using it this way.

 

I actually just went through an ordeal with the blower motor not working. I replaced the Blower Hi relay and the blower motor and nothing. Turned out to be the ground. Do your windshield wipers work during the problem times? The wiper motor shares the same common ground with the blower motor. In the big loom that runs across the top of the firewall is the common ground point. It is a bare metal crimp that corrodes over time. I replaced that and it solved my problems.


Do you have an electrical schematic for your car? If not, tomorrow when I get to work I'll send you the schematic for the heater/ac system.

 

Alright! Now we're onto something here! Wipers don't work either!

Where exactly is this ground? Also, would really appreciate a copy of the schematic.

Ed

 

The common ground point is located in the large plastic loom that runs slightly above and behind the distributor from one side of the engine bay to the other. When you open it up you will see 4-6 black wires meet up with an exposed metal crimp. These common ground points corrode and seriously slow the flow of electricity down. I could measure 14V at the blower motor too, but when it came time to run an accessory, there just wasn't enough juice.

When I get to work tomorrow I'll send you the schematic in PDF form.

 

The ground is a loop connector that comes out of the harness on the passenger side by the valve cover. It is often mistakeningly connected to the starter.

I think the ring terminal connects to a intake manifold bolt.

A bad ground will kill both wipers & blower.

 

Nice looking dog Ak Mal! You're a fast typer too.

 

Black wire attached to the starter (via loop connector) How many wires should be attached to the starter?

 

If you follow the small black wire, it will lead to the common point in the plastic wire loom behind the distributor.

As for wires to the starter, there are two small guage red wires and a large guage power wire. Off the body of the starter is an uninsulated ground wire to the chassis.

 

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!

This was it! Move the connector from the starter positive terminal to an intake manifold bolt and my 80 came back ALIVE!!!

Thanks for the Help!!!!

Ed

 

Thanks!!! Your note combined with the advice to look for this SOLVED THE PROBLEM!!!! Blower works... AC clutch works... Stereo works... wipers work!!!!

LIFE IS GOOD... Thanks a million! Ed

 

Sounds like I need to move the ground wire off the starter. I hate the previous owner of my car more and more with every small project I tackle.

 

The above is a VERY common wiring error while doing starter work or whatever related....that ~10 ga black wire is going to the engine block/related point, NOT the battery wire on the starter.....

It is an old bug-a-boo of GM wiring in these vettes that apparently was never corrected over the years of production....
my '72 had the same setup....NOW, I have a 8 ga black wire and loop connected on the TPI manifold just for common sense approach....

GENE