Help Electrical Problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 230
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
Help Starter Problem
I have been working for months on the car. Got new engine and suspension in place and running.
I was cleaning up the engine bay and grouping a placing wire looms in place and forgot to disconnect battery
. One wire that was connected to the alternator that needed to be rerouted. To make a long story short, it hit the engine block and I heard a pop and saw a cloud of smoke came for the area of the starter.
The result No Power, No starter, No radio, I checked the fuses, all look OK
Any suggestions what I should look for or at?
Would a bad starter result in No power in the car?
I was cleaning up the engine bay and grouping a placing wire looms in place and forgot to disconnect battery
. One wire that was connected to the alternator that needed to be rerouted. To make a long story short, it hit the engine block and I heard a pop and saw a cloud of smoke came for the area of the starter.The result No Power, No starter, No radio, I checked the fuses, all look OK
Any suggestions what I should look for or at?
Would a bad starter result in No power in the car?
Last edited by Al77Vette; Mar 2, 2006 at 10:31 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 599
Likes: 16
From: vista CA
Possible your starter windings shorted out - but before going crazy, get a voltmeter, charge your battery and do some basic checks. When you connect the battery - does it draw the voltage down over a few minutes, or sooner? If it does, you got a short and need to find / fix it. If you suspect a starter short, just remove power leads to starter and see if rest of the system comes up and works (radio/lights, etc.).
I can't recall if these have any fusable links in the hot wires - if so, could have blown one of those (open circuit). In that case the fully charged battery may not draw down and things wont work....easy to check for voltage on the hot wire at various places and see where you loose it (open circuit). Your post makes it sound like there is an open as nothing is working ....
Do a few basic checks and post more info....
I can't recall if these have any fusable links in the hot wires - if so, could have blown one of those (open circuit). In that case the fully charged battery may not draw down and things wont work....easy to check for voltage on the hot wire at various places and see where you loose it (open circuit). Your post makes it sound like there is an open as nothing is working ....
Do a few basic checks and post more info....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 230
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
Still learning
I am a little of a novice here so.
I disconnected the wires from all of the wires from starter.
Still nothing.
I re-attached each set of wires. First one set then the other
Still nothing.
Voltmeter reads 12.75 DCV at the battery.
Fusable Links... Are these the white items shown in the attached picture?
I disconnected the wires from all of the wires from starter.
Still nothing.
I re-attached each set of wires. First one set then the other
Still nothing.
Voltmeter reads 12.75 DCV at the battery.
Fusable Links... Are these the white items shown in the attached picture?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Falls, N.Y. 76 Vette Modified L-48
Originally Posted by Al77Vette
I am a little of a novice here so.
I disconnected the wires from all of the wires from starter.
Still nothing.
I re-attached each set of wires. First one set then the other
Still nothing.
Voltmeter reads 12.75 DCV at the battery.
Fusable Links... Are these the white items shown in the attached picture?
I disconnected the wires from all of the wires from starter.
Still nothing.
I re-attached each set of wires. First one set then the other
Still nothing.
Voltmeter reads 12.75 DCV at the battery.
Fusable Links... Are these the white items shown in the attached picture?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 1
From: St Augustine FL
There is a twenty amp fuse in the battery compartment of my 82. I am not sure what it is for but i think it is for the puter on the car. Which yours does not have.
The white things look like fuse links. Do they come apart? Check all of the higher amperage rated fuses. They can be blown where you can't visually see the break. You could have also burned a wire in wire in half if the fuse did not blow. I will look in my 82 shop manual and see if I can find any weak points or see if there is a main fuse for the car. The wiring should be similar on your vette.
The white things look like fuse links. Do they come apart? Check all of the higher amperage rated fuses. They can be blown where you can't visually see the break. You could have also burned a wire in wire in half if the fuse did not blow. I will look in my 82 shop manual and see if I can find any weak points or see if there is a main fuse for the car. The wiring should be similar on your vette.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: St Louis Missouri
The trapped smoke theory of electricity: Once the smoke leaves the wires it won’t work any more.
It sounds like a fusible link. They are permanent fuses that are in the wiring by the starter. On my 75 one cable goes from the battery to the started, the electricity is then taped off the starter post to the rest of the car. These wires have a noticeable bulge in them that is a fusible link. You’ll have to cut it out and but in an inline fuse of the same amperage.
I hope that’s your problem it’s an easy fix.
It sounds like a fusible link. They are permanent fuses that are in the wiring by the starter. On my 75 one cable goes from the battery to the started, the electricity is then taped off the starter post to the rest of the car. These wires have a noticeable bulge in them that is a fusible link. You’ll have to cut it out and but in an inline fuse of the same amperage.
I hope that’s your problem it’s an easy fix.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 230
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
I think that I found the first Problem and I hope the only problem.
On the Starter wire harness just below the two white things in the picture posted earlier, the wire is burned through. I guess this is the fusible wire??
Temporally, can I use a piece of 12 or 10 gauge wire to complete the circuit?
On the Starter wire harness just below the two white things in the picture posted earlier, the wire is burned through. I guess this is the fusible wire??
Temporally, can I use a piece of 12 or 10 gauge wire to complete the circuit?
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Lurkerville
Those "white things" should be fusable links. If the wire down circuit from them is fried sounds like they didnt do their job. Me personally would buy a new starter extension kit. Last thing you would want to do is mickey mouse a hot wire.
just my 2c
just my 2c
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,640
Likes: 121
From: Farragut,TN
was the wire red? if so there is a fusiable link in that line that goes to the starter solenoid. if the red wire hit ground then it probably opened especially since the insulation on that particular wire has bubbled up. if you have an ohm meter check the resistance on that line. if infinity or high resistance then its toast.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by 694speed350
was the wire red? if so there is a fusiable link in that line that goes to the starter solenoid. if the red wire hit ground then it probably opened especially since the insulation on that particular wire has bubbled up. if you have an ohm meter check the resistance on that line. if infinity or high resistance then its toast.
Exactly. The fusable link protects wiring to the alternator. That link did it's job. Now you get to replace it.... 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 230
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
She is alive…
Thanks everyone for your help. I put a short patch to see if that was the only thing wrong. It was
This afternoon, I started checking continuity from the starter and found the problem within two checks.
I just order a new starter wiring harness: thumbs:
By the way I took the battery out of the car until I finish the work. After spending last 4 months under the car and in the engine bay, I don't need to spend any more $$$ except for gas..
A few more days I will be ready to ride....
Thanks to all Have one on me.
Thanks everyone for your help. I put a short patch to see if that was the only thing wrong. It was
This afternoon, I started checking continuity from the starter and found the problem within two checks.
I just order a new starter wiring harness: thumbs:
By the way I took the battery out of the car until I finish the work. After spending last 4 months under the car and in the engine bay, I don't need to spend any more $$$ except for gas..
A few more days I will be ready to ride.... Thanks to all Have one on me.