Please help
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: phoenix az
Please help
I just purchased my dream car, a 1982 corvette c3. I drove it home and it ran just fine except it had no headlights and needs a water pump. When I got it home my "mechanic" (we'll just call him that because I want to be nice) touched a wire that was just hanging off of my started to another mystery thick black wire and it sparked, now the car won't start at all. I have panel lights and the radio comes on, I can even hear the fan but it won't even try to turn over. My question is a two parter, first what did he do? Is it an easy fix? and second what do i need to do to fix that and what do I need to do to fix my headlights. It has a 383 stroker, automatic, some electrical issues but was running just fine before those wires were touched. Please someone just tell me what to do and I will take care of my baby girl myself. I can send pics if that helps. All I want to do is drive her. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
free "mechanic" are never free; they always cost LOTS of money to fix their "fixes".... here's it's called being Bubba'd
The wire - I'd guess that he grounded out one of the two power wires and blew the in-line fuse.... it's molded into the wire so it's not an easy fix, but it's also not terribly hard - just time consuming and requires some contortion techniques. That said, it may also be some kind of alarm system.... in short, more info needed
Headlights - find your local Corvette club (look at the bottom of the Forum page for people in your area, and clubs) and ask them. But your question requires more for us to even guess - do the lights go up? if they don't come on - check your high/low beam switch. If they don't come up.... uggg... anyway, specifically, what isn't it doing?
What is the water pump doing/not doing?
The wire - I'd guess that he grounded out one of the two power wires and blew the in-line fuse.... it's molded into the wire so it's not an easy fix, but it's also not terribly hard - just time consuming and requires some contortion techniques. That said, it may also be some kind of alarm system.... in short, more info needed
Headlights - find your local Corvette club (look at the bottom of the Forum page for people in your area, and clubs) and ask them. But your question requires more for us to even guess - do the lights go up? if they don't come on - check your high/low beam switch. If they don't come up.... uggg... anyway, specifically, what isn't it doing?
What is the water pump doing/not doing?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: phoenix az
Thanks for the reply, first of all he's wasn't free he's rebuilding my 1965 chevy impala but he will never touch my vette again.
I will check the inline fuse, I just need to locate it
The headlights come up no problem, when I turn on the headlights it shows that my brights are on but no light at all and the bright indicator does not go off when I use the bright/dim switch. The guy I bought the car from stated that the radio wasn't working the day before but the lights were. He changed the fuse for the radio and now that works but I would rather have lights lol.
The water pump is straight up leaking and I am going out today to change it myself.
Is there anyway you can give me a hint on where the inline fuse is so I am not wasteing time looking.
I will check the inline fuse, I just need to locate it
The headlights come up no problem, when I turn on the headlights it shows that my brights are on but no light at all and the bright indicator does not go off when I use the bright/dim switch. The guy I bought the car from stated that the radio wasn't working the day before but the lights were. He changed the fuse for the radio and now that works but I would rather have lights lol.
The water pump is straight up leaking and I am going out today to change it myself.
Is there anyway you can give me a hint on where the inline fuse is so I am not wasteing time looking.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Most likely the spark blew-out a fuseable link to the starter. Easy to replace, as long as you can get under the car as the fuseable link is at the starter....passenger side of the engine.
If there are loose wires in the engine compartment...these will all need to be addressed. There are wiring diagrams available online for free that you should get and use this to fix the wiring.
The L82 engine is a challenege at times to get running properly. It is a two year only engine, so parts are somewhat difficult to find with regards to the throttle bodies; internal engine parts are no problems.
Good luck and be sure to ask the Forum for help...that is what we all like to do.
If there are loose wires in the engine compartment...these will all need to be addressed. There are wiring diagrams available online for free that you should get and use this to fix the wiring.
The L82 engine is a challenege at times to get running properly. It is a two year only engine, so parts are somewhat difficult to find with regards to the throttle bodies; internal engine parts are no problems.
Good luck and be sure to ask the Forum for help...that is what we all like to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
If it does have a 383 swapped in, it probably does not have the original crossfire injection. Then it will not have the original ignition system. You probably will need someone (who knows what they are doing) to physically look at it to see how everything is hooked up. It is really hard to trouble shoot a modified car, without seeing or knowing the modifications.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 9
From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
Canadian Events Coordinator
If it does have a 383 swapped in, it probably does not have the original crossfire injection. Then it will not have the original ignition system. You probably will need someone (who knows what they are doing) to physically look at it to see how everything is hooked up. It is really hard to trouble shoot a modified car, without seeing or knowing the modifications.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The fusable link is part of the starter wiring harness. The generic auto fix it books (Chilton, Haynes, etc) will show them.
Unsolicited Free Advice: purchase the assembly instruction manual (AIM) and GM chassis service manual for your 82. Order a reproduction owner's manual if you do not have an original.
Headlight operation is two part. Opening and closing the headlight doors is 100% vacuum. Lights on and off is 100% electrical.
Unsolicited Free Advice: purchase the assembly instruction manual (AIM) and GM chassis service manual for your 82. Order a reproduction owner's manual if you do not have an original.
Headlight operation is two part. Opening and closing the headlight doors is 100% vacuum. Lights on and off is 100% electrical.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Nov 15, 2012 at 11:49 AM.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: phoenix az
I have a couple of pics of the starter but I can't figure out how to post them with my message if someone can email me then I can send the pics maybe that would help. hissickpuppy AT yahoo.com
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
Since the headlights worked one day and the radio didnt, then the following day the radio worked and the headlights didnt, I would check
" ALL " the fuses under the dash. With having a engine swap, who knows what wires are still original. where was the wire at that your mechanic touched ? I assume it was not hooked up to anything ?
Pics are worth a thousands words. Plus guys work betta with pics
" ALL " the fuses under the dash. With having a engine swap, who knows what wires are still original. where was the wire at that your mechanic touched ? I assume it was not hooked up to anything ?
Pics are worth a thousands words. Plus guys work betta with pics
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: phoenix az
Like i said i can't figure out how to post pics here please email me and i will send them they show the wires touched. I did check all the fuses for the lights and they are all good.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Irma Northern WI
This may sound a little over simplified but, check the headlight bulbs. I have had a similar situation to what you have and it ended up being two bulbs and a crossed filiment.
As far as a fusible link, I have never seen one of them fail with a short spark. They are a special wire designed to fail just before the harness turns to crap, but not that much before. I would rather think that the previous owner likely installed a remote fuse in the harness someplace. Good luck, I am sure that you will enjoy the car after you work out the bugs.
As far as a fusible link, I have never seen one of them fail with a short spark. They are a special wire designed to fail just before the harness turns to crap, but not that much before. I would rather think that the previous owner likely installed a remote fuse in the harness someplace. Good luck, I am sure that you will enjoy the car after you work out the bugs.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
If you look at my picture, right next to the exhaust header are the starter wires hanging after I removed my starter. The fusible link for the starter is the wire that has the white plastic fuse on it. Mine is an 80' but I'm guessing it should be the same as your 82' unless it was changed by a previous owner.
Also, unplug one of your headlight bulbs, turn on your headlights, and using a volt meter, check to see if you have voltage at the bulb socket, lite green and tan should be hot (high/low beams), black should be ground. Make sure the ground is good also.
Also, unplug one of your headlight bulbs, turn on your headlights, and using a volt meter, check to see if you have voltage at the bulb socket, lite green and tan should be hot (high/low beams), black should be ground. Make sure the ground is good also.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
2) Upload your pictures to the photobucket account.
3) Click on a picture you uploaded, and look for where it says "IMG code". Click there, and it will say 'copied'. This has copied the "IMG code" to your 'clipboard'.
4) In your post on CF, simply 'paste' in the 'IMG code' and your picture will show up. You can use the 'preview' feature to make sure it worked correctly.