C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

C3 electrical is crazy

Old Jun 13, 2002 | 04:24 PM
  #1  
Cory1970's Avatar
Cory1970
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Default C3 electrical is crazy

Alright, my interior lights do not work and my radio has a ground problem (which I fixed today) and a couple of other little things do not work. Well i think figured it out. There is a large purple wire, it is actualy 2 wires put together, hanging right above my fuse box on my vette (1970). The two ends are twisted together, with the ends exposed, and look like they should hook up to the fuse box, but i do not know where they hook up? Any ideas about these large purple wires. :confused: :confused: :cheers:
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2002 | 04:29 PM
  #2  
im181owner's Avatar
im181owner
Racer
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Hill,GA,USA
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

The purple wire I have somewhere in there is from the neutral safety switch(keeps the car from starting in drive). I have a later model though.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2002 | 04:31 PM
  #3  
mrvette's Avatar
mrvette
Team Owner
Active Streak: 120 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

The two large purple wires are the starter interconnect safety circuit...
in other words, leave them connected....one is purple the other is probably purple/white.....that is either side of the 'neutral safety switch/....

GENE
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2002 | 02:26 PM
  #4  
Cory1970's Avatar
Cory1970
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

they are already hanging there and are twisted togethe , but where do they hook up to ? ignition or fuse box?? and anyone know where the gray wires on my gauge lights hook up to so i can get those working. I don't like getting on it at night because i don't know when the thing is red lineing, running hot, or if i am runnig out of gass, not that the gass gauge works anyways.. haha :lol: :cheers:
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2002 | 01:51 PM
  #5  
Cory1970's Avatar
Cory1970
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

they went on for a second yesterday when i hooked up a wire that goes to the engine temp gauge, why would that help.... anyone have a wire diagram thay can send me
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2002 | 05:05 PM
  #6  
Cory1970's Avatar
Cory1970
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

I got the test light out today to check the fuses. There are three fuses that have no power to them on either side and puting a new fuse in did not help. So I thought that maybe they are not hooked up. I took the fuse box out and they seem to be connected correctly. I have not clue how to get power to them. The fuses are: at the middle of the botom, labeled INST-5A; Bottom right, labeled Gauges- 10A(probly the reason my gauge lights don't work); and one right above the gauge fuse labeled, DIR SIG- 25A. Anyone have any hints :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: If electrical problems were a person I would kill him.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2002 | 05:16 PM
  #7  
BB wowbagger's Avatar
BB wowbagger
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 1
From: Sodertalje/Sweden
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

Theres laminated wiring diagram to by.I bought mine from ZIP and its great..They are complete diagrams that show every cable on your car.. :cheers:
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2002 | 05:28 PM
  #8  
mrvette's Avatar
mrvette
Team Owner
Active Streak: 120 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

Cory, it's really hard to tell without being there, I try being clair-voyeaur-ant with electricals, but my memory fails some times....if you can get your car down to Jax O/Park...I can fix it....remote controll sometimes is hard....

it's not the purple wires though...that's the starter safety interlock switch...
only.....and nothing else....I wonder if it's possible you have a defective ignition switch...NOT the KEY lock thing...BUT the ELECTRICAL unit above the column where all the heavy connectors plug in....
it's a bitch to get to, on account of crooks/auto theives/etc....but you can drop the columb a bit with two 9/16 bolts and get to it, most times...sometimes you gotta loosen the firewall through bolt flanges to get to what you need...
wonder if that switch has 'slipped' or if it's burnt, easily found by brown burnt discolored nylon plastic, not factory white/cream color....
it's possible the fuse block is bad, but that's usually caused by corrosioin....
and is fairly evident by color of the brass and such....anything black in connector metal land is bad news....obvously....

GENE
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jun 16, 2002 | 06:10 PM
  #9  
Cory1970's Avatar
Cory1970
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (mrvette)

where do i get a new switch if this one is fried... and could this be the cause of my gauge lights not working?
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2002 | 06:19 PM
  #10  
mrvette's Avatar
mrvette
Team Owner
Active Streak: 120 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

New switch, probably expensive, I know my steering couumn switch is not intended for a vette, but was easily adapted from a junkyard era compatible car...but not sure as to the specifics exactly....lousey referance, sure...;-)))
the dash lights are not depandant on ignition switch position...headlights are not either....
do NOT depend on the LOOK of a damn fuse for telling wether it's good or not..makes NO sense, but getting hot on one end of these high amp glass fuses will melt the internal solder off the end cap of the fuse and open the circuit...seen and proved that many times....it happens fairly quickly I presume or the plastic surround would be burnt also....
but it's a bad connection getting hot just the same....
so you need a voltmeter to prove the point...

GENE
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2002 | 02:55 AM
  #11  
Cory1970's Avatar
Cory1970
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (mrvette)

Even if the fuse did burn up when i used the test light. I put new fuses in and the lights still did not work. How could i fix the problem of no power to that fuse in the first place because that is what i think the problem is???
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2002 | 04:57 AM
  #12  
mrvette's Avatar
mrvette
Team Owner
Active Streak: 120 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (Cory1970)

Cory, thing is, if you never have power to the fuse, the only thing there that would normally cause that is the ignition electrical switch on top of the lower section of the steering columb, inside the car...sheielded by the mounting brackets, and hard to get to....even harder to bloody SEE, these cars have the dashboard area so messed up even MY car is hard to work on, and I rewired the damn thing last winter making it SO much easier overall, but a stock shark is a nitemare, so many brackets, bars, assorted bullsh it in the way...., dropping the steering columb by loosening the floor flange bolts, and the two 9/16 bolts on the mounting 'ears' just up top of the lower columb trim plate....the one that holds those silly 'service' switches for the vacuum systems....
I swear, mostly it's better to just pull out the damn driver's seat to work on these cars.....4 bolts and it's outtathere....
anyway, if you drop the steering columb lo enough, it may just allow getting to the switch, maybe....you will notice with great difficulty there is an adjustment to the switch, it may be even loose, not allowing the switch to slide into position for the circuit you need there....and in fact not be a bad switch afterall....
at this point it's helpful if you had a factory wiring diagram, I have one to my '72, but my scanner is sh it.....

GENE

GENE
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2002 | 11:10 AM
  #13  
Cory1970's Avatar
Cory1970
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Default Re: C3 electrical is crazy (mrvette)

Thank you and wish me good luck! Hey if anyone has a good scaner and a diagram or a site with one it would be the best thing to happen to me since i got my car!!!! :yesnod: :cheers:
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C3 electrical is crazy



Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:25 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE