c3 electrical/alarm system problems
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
c3 electrical/alarm system problems
ok first off i have used this site over the last 5months as i have trying to restore my 1980 corvette, but tonight i have finally registered so i can make my first post as i am truely stumped and can not find any solutions.To begin i just completely rebuilt the stock motor myself so now its a 500hp 383. Now as i have the engine back in the car now and mostly all hooked up such as just the bare essentials so i can see if my engine will even start as this is my first engine build ever and solo one to:/ i am having problems with getting any power to my car so that i can start my engine. when i first had everything connected and went to attach the battery terminals to start my car i had some rather unusually amount of sparks but they went away when fully connected, my stereo turned on then shut off after 10seconds and i heard a pop. And no power in my car and the terminals were hot. only . now every time i connect the battery i get 1 spark then nothing i wait 1min connect again same thing pop then nothing. I think the alarm system is my problem any help is appreciated.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Also adding on to there i have previously before this engine build somewhat tried to disconnect my alarm system in the past so now my car doesnt beep when it goes off, but as i have zero power in my car i dont know if the alarm system is really whats stopping me from getting power now, the only thing that worked for me in the past was to keep the battery connected and wait a day and magically it would fix its self and then id have power and be able to start my car again. as this happened a few times in the past before this engine build. im trying to give as much history and background as i can so you guys can truely help me trouble shoot this problem, all im soing now is keeping the battery connected at the moment and waiting for it to fix its self lol, and again than you for any help in advance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 6
Well, from the symptoms you had a severe short to ground somewhere. (Motor out/motor in crimped a wire somewhere?) You kept the power on and probably significantly fried something. Does a 1980 have 'fusable link' wires anywhere? Of course, with enough power, any wire can become a fuseable link and melt. And if it's inside the insulation, it's going to be tough to find. Might have destroyed a circuit breaker. I am assuming you've already checked all the fuses?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 623
Likes: 4
From: Stuart Florida
Great to see you posting on the forum, C3's are a fantastic vette I had one myself.
The guys in the C3 section of the forum have super knowledge and will help you right away with your C3.
Scroll down to the C3 section and post your question, here in the C6 section we can't help you as much as they can.
Enjoy the Forum.
The guys in the C3 section of the forum have super knowledge and will help you right away with your C3.
Scroll down to the C3 section and post your question, here in the C6 section we can't help you as much as they can.
Enjoy the Forum.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
I agree you need to go to the C3 section. They will help with your next step of tearing the electrical system apart and using a meter to find all the shorts. In an '80 it is mostly just wires. At least you don't have computers that you have fried. In the mean time, make sure you have a fire extinguisher handy if you insist on continually connecting the battery rather than a meter and leaving it on for so long each time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 16
From: Sugarhill Ga
Well, from the symptoms you had a severe short to ground somewhere. (Motor out/motor in crimped a wire somewhere?) You kept the power on and probably significantly fried something. Does a 1980 have 'fusable link' wires anywhere? Of course, with enough power, any wire can become a fuseable link and melt. And if it's inside the insulation, it's going to be tough to find. Might have destroyed a circuit breaker. I am assuming you've already checked all the fuses?
I would start looking down by the starter and engine mounts. also look to the cables up to the battery in the cubby hole. A power wire is shorted.
good luck
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Well, from the symptoms you had a severe short to ground somewhere. (Motor out/motor in crimped a wire somewhere?) You kept the power on and probably significantly fried something. Does a 1980 have 'fusable link' wires anywhere? Of course, with enough power, any wire can become a fuseable link and melt. And if it's inside the insulation, it's going to be tough to find. Might have destroyed a circuit breaker. I am assuming you've already checked all the fuses?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Great to see you posting on the forum, C3's are a fantastic vette I had one myself.
The guys in the C3 section of the forum have super knowledge and will help you right away with your C3.
Scroll down to the C3 section and post your question, here in the C6 section we can't help you as much as they can.
Enjoy the Forum.
The guys in the C3 section of the forum have super knowledge and will help you right away with your C3.
Scroll down to the C3 section and post your question, here in the C6 section we can't help you as much as they can.
Enjoy the Forum.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
I totally agree with you but as i mentioned this is my first post and have no idea how to do anything on this site yet, im not good with computer or electrics as you can see lol. If you could give me a quick summary on how to use these forums as im not even sure how i posted this thread :/ but atleast you guys found it and can help me now lol.
For your info, go up above to the red "Menu" bar, on the left side you'll see "Forums". Click on that to get the drop down menu for all the Forums. Scroll down to "C3" then over to the sub-menus for the C3 section. In this case we'll direct you to start out in C3 General but they might suggest C3 Tech later.
Good luck with the problem.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
We'll ask a Moderator to move this to the C3 General Forum so the ideas can continue and build.
For your info, go up above to the red "Menu" bar, on the left side you'll see "Forums". Click on that to get the drop down menu for all the Forums. Scroll down to "C3" then over to the sub-menus for the C3 section. In this case we'll direct you to start out in C3 General but they might suggest C3 Tech later.
Good luck with the problem.
For your info, go up above to the red "Menu" bar, on the left side you'll see "Forums". Click on that to get the drop down menu for all the Forums. Scroll down to "C3" then over to the sub-menus for the C3 section. In this case we'll direct you to start out in C3 General but they might suggest C3 Tech later.
Good luck with the problem.
