Electrical issue/ignition - urgent
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Electrical issue/ignition - urgent
I have an electrical issue. The positive wire leading up to the distributor seems to have no current on it.
I have worked on my car (clutch) and have taken out the starter motor, but that seems to work ok. But I have no iginition and as said the wire is without current.
I also took out the distributor during this work (in order to make it possible to tilt the engine to do the cluthc work).
I would think that this circuit has not fuse but I'm not entirely sure.
Have to mention that during taking the starter out, the wires shorted a little on the headers. Could this have caused any issues for instance to the thermal switches (white blocks on these wires ? I would assume other things would have quit working, but I'm not sure.
Any ideas what this could be ? And where to start looking
Thanks a lot for any input.
I have worked on my car (clutch) and have taken out the starter motor, but that seems to work ok. But I have no iginition and as said the wire is without current.
I also took out the distributor during this work (in order to make it possible to tilt the engine to do the cluthc work).
I would think that this circuit has not fuse but I'm not entirely sure.
Have to mention that during taking the starter out, the wires shorted a little on the headers. Could this have caused any issues for instance to the thermal switches (white blocks on these wires ? I would assume other things would have quit working, but I'm not sure.
Any ideas what this could be ? And where to start looking
Thanks a lot for any input.
Last edited by Belgian1979vette; Jun 15, 2014 at 07:54 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
If you have power at the starter where the battery connection is and no power to the ignition, you may have a bad fusable link. You can get a starter wiring assembly. My advise is to get a wire diagram for your 79.
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ategoryid=X980
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ategoryid=X980
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ategoryid=X980
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...ategoryid=X980
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
There are three fuse links on your car, two by the starter, one by the main fuse panel in the engine compartment. Pull on these wires and see if they break.. if they do replace them with fuse link.. NEVER ever ever replace a fuse link with regular wire. I have some pictures that will scare all of you from someone doing this.
Willcox
Willcox
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Help
Just had the motor rebuilt for my Vette , motor in and I am getting fuel and spark to the plugs . But the motor will not start, a couple of times I got a back fire through the carb but thats it . I am not sure where else to look to slove this problem
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
And for future reference, you really should start a new thread rather than hijack an existing one.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Timing- check the distributor is pointing at #1 firing position when the #1 cylinder is at TDC on the compression stroke. Then make sure the firing order is correct. If you're getting fuel, compression and spark at the correct time, it's going to run. If you've cranked the snot out of it and pumped the gas, you may have washed the cylinders and need to give it a shot of oil in each cylinder to get the rings some better seal until it starts.
And for future reference, you really should start a new thread rather than hijack an existing one.
And for future reference, you really should start a new thread rather than hijack an existing one.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Ok, guys thanks for sticking with me on this one 
This was a really stupid fault on my part. Let me explain.
First : I checked the white blocks near the starter and they didn't pull apart. I then disconnected the connector at the top of the firewall which leads to the starter and wanted to check for resistance, which should be zero when this was ok. I found out that for some reason my multimeter wouldn't give me reading. Then I found that I had accidentally pushed the hold button on it before....
Anyway the resistance read 0 for any of these wires.
I then put the key in ignition on position and remeasured the current et voila, current at the ignition wire...
Stupid me.
Now I still need to find out where I messed up the connection of the coil for it not to fire.
This was a really stupid fault on my part. Let me explain.
First : I checked the white blocks near the starter and they didn't pull apart. I then disconnected the connector at the top of the firewall which leads to the starter and wanted to check for resistance, which should be zero when this was ok. I found out that for some reason my multimeter wouldn't give me reading. Then I found that I had accidentally pushed the hold button on it before....
Anyway the resistance read 0 for any of these wires.
I then put the key in ignition on position and remeasured the current et voila, current at the ignition wire...
Stupid me
.Now I still need to find out where I messed up the connection of the coil for it not to fire.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Again ck for 12vdc at the coil wire from the starter. Did you reconnect the wires at the starter since you had the starter out? Dumb question but that is where you were working before this started.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
OK-- I was asleep-- 1979 uses a "Starter Extension Harness" the connector is on the firewall behind and to the right of the distributor. It has 6 wires going into and out of it. All of the power to the car goes thru that connector. The terminals get hot, the plastic connector melts a little, the terminals get loose, they get hotter and soon no power thru them. Good place to start looking since your fusible links are OK- and that's the next weak link in the system.