81 corvette auto no start
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 187
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From: Jacksonville Fl
81 corvette auto no start
My son has replace his alternator, wire going to the alternator to the battery, had his starter checked and tested good, replace his battery. Plus he tested his fusible link and are good.
What is happening is when he turn his key to the acc spot everything works. But as soon as he try to start the motor he loses all power till he put the key in the off spot.
Does anyone have any ideas on what could be the trouble? Could it be that his computer needs to be reflash?
What is happening is when he turn his key to the acc spot everything works. But as soon as he try to start the motor he loses all power till he put the key in the off spot.
Does anyone have any ideas on what could be the trouble? Could it be that his computer needs to be reflash?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
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From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
the igniton switch is deep in the column.
the plug it uses is burried in the column also, I believe.
without the book in front of me I can't say.
If the switch was shorting, I think some fuse or link would fry.
that it goes dead, seems it just doesn't make contact.
I guess I would look for the plug and wires that run to it and
try to "hot wire" it like the theives who steal cars.
from your explanation, sounds like a switch issue.
the plug it uses is burried in the column also, I believe.
without the book in front of me I can't say.
If the switch was shorting, I think some fuse or link would fry.
that it goes dead, seems it just doesn't make contact.
I guess I would look for the plug and wires that run to it and
try to "hot wire" it like the theives who steal cars.
from your explanation, sounds like a switch issue.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
i think the 81 had a theft deterrent module system with a starter interrupt relay in it. that may be causing him problems.
http://www.nrjvette.com/johdotukset/...tte%201981.pdf
http://www.nrjvette.com/johdotukset/...tte%201981.pdf
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
i think the 81 had a theft deterrent module system with a starter interrupt relay in it. that may be causing him problems.
http://www.nrjvette.com/johdotukset/...tte%201981.pdf
http://www.nrjvette.com/johdotukset/...tte%201981.pdf
that only keeps the starter from turning, not the whole electrical system
sounds like in "run" there is no power. no lights on dash.
no radio? no power windows? no blinkers?
but in acc he has radio.
OP, do the interior lights cut off too?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Im willing to bet its NOT your ignition switch.
You wired something up wrong and its grounding out the instant you throw power to the starter. I wish I could be more helpful, but electrical is hard to diagnose via a thread forum. All I can say is that you did a bunch of rewiring work....for your ignition switch to suddenly go bad now is a serious improbability.
You wired something up wrong and its grounding out the instant you throw power to the starter. I wish I could be more helpful, but electrical is hard to diagnose via a thread forum. All I can say is that you did a bunch of rewiring work....for your ignition switch to suddenly go bad now is a serious improbability.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
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From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
on reflection, I would pull the key cylinder and look at the switch.
take a screw driver and "wiggle and jiggle"
the key cylinder is removed by inserting a thin/wire rod into a hole while turning the lock.
there should be instructions some where on the net.
take a screw driver and "wiggle and jiggle"
the key cylinder is removed by inserting a thin/wire rod into a hole while turning the lock.
there should be instructions some where on the net.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
Im willing to bet its NOT your ignition switch.
You wired something up wrong and its grounding out the instant you throw power to the starter. I wish I could be more helpful, but electrical is hard to diagnose via a thread forum. All I can say is that you did a bunch of rewiring work....for your ignition switch to suddenly go bad now is a serious improbability.
You wired something up wrong and its grounding out the instant you throw power to the starter. I wish I could be more helpful, but electrical is hard to diagnose via a thread forum. All I can say is that you did a bunch of rewiring work....for your ignition switch to suddenly go bad now is a serious improbability.
I ASSUMED it was trying to fix the problem and not a result of that trying.
and yes, trying to understand what OP is saying is hard and "goes dead" is vague.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Not much to say every time i try to start my car it kills all power. But if i turn the key back to off the lights inside come back on.
Side note:
The wire that goes from the battery is red. But the wire that goes on the alternator is black. Any idea how a wire that start off red turns black? That the wire i replace and wonder if it the trouble.
Side note:
The wire that goes from the battery is red. But the wire that goes on the alternator is black. Any idea how a wire that start off red turns black? That the wire i replace and wonder if it the trouble.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
Not much to say every time i try to start my car it kills all power. But if i turn the key back to off the lights inside come back on.
Side note:
The wire that goes from the battery is red. But the wire that goes on the alternator is black. Any idea how a wire that start off red turns black? That the wire i replace and wonder if it the trouble.
Side note:
The wire that goes from the battery is red. But the wire that goes on the alternator is black. Any idea how a wire that start off red turns black? That the wire i replace and wonder if it the trouble.
there is help here. If you want serious help, you need
to be more factual.
if it was OK before the wire change, what does that tell you?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
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From: Jacksonville Fl
It was not ok. I could not find where it went could not get a read off from it. And the blue printes i got only show the wire going from alternator to battery which tell me someone may have messed with it in a temp to patch it. That why i cant understand how a red color wire turns black. Hope im not sounding rude just trying to give the best info i can give when the right question is ask.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
It was not ok. I could not find where it went could not get a read off from it. And the blue printes i got only show the wire going from alternator to battery which tell me someone may have messed with it in a temp to patch it. That why i cant understand how a red color wire turns black. Hope im not sounding rude just trying to give the best info i can give when the right question is ask.
did the car start just going dead AND THEN you started changing parts or not?
the wire color does not matter to electricity.
again, please tell your story with a history of what happened, when, what you did about it.
I hate to be terse but trying to ASSUME and GUESS what you are saying ain't cutting it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
so we are on the same page OP,
key has 4 positions
1 off
2 access (back)
3 Run (forward)
4 start (way forward)(spins starter)
so in the run position, #3 there is no power?
key has 4 positions
1 off
2 access (back)
3 Run (forward)
4 start (way forward)(spins starter)
so in the run position, #3 there is no power?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
I replace my alternator because the regulator went out. I made sure which my 3 wire where 1 to the battery and 2 to the frame. I when thru 3 alternators, the wire i thought was to the battery (because the other 2 wire ring to ground.) I choose to replace it. After that everything started to work normal. That is till i turn it off and then it started doing what im saying it doing now. I ring out the fusible link and tested good, went to auto zone had the starter tested and it passed, the battery is new and still good. So any thoughts?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22