Missing Dash Ground
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 281
Likes: 4
From: Holbrook MA
Missing Dash Ground
While checking out my "new" 77 vette, I noticed a couple of loose wires under the dash. One was black, with a ground-type loop connector on the end. A little research showed that I should have a dash ground on the A pillar near the under-dash light, so I thought I was all set. However, the wire I found is actually spliced onto the end of a wire that comes out from behind the console. It appears to be blue or gray, tough to tell after all these years, but definitely not black, and I'm still missing my ground. Where can I track the ground back from? I've looked under the dash, but I don't see any unconnected black wires. Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 281
Likes: 4
From: Holbrook MA
I found a pic showing the dash ground position, but the pic seems to be with the dash out. Is the ground visible with the dash in the car? I've also read that a missing ground will cause half the dash lights to go out, and the left gauge has the lights on the left out. Also, I noticed that the throttle cable under the hood is bare. The plastic sheath has split almost the whole length of the cable. I've heard of this happening on other cars when there is a ground missing, and power ends up grounding thru the cable. Anyone heard of this on a vette?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Each side needs to be grounded. For your throttle cable - most likely just worn through. I suppose it's possible for some electrical system to try to seek ground through the cable but in order to split the plastic sheathing you would have to have a lot heat and sparks - probably wouldn't mix will the gas fumes.
