Very Strange Electrical Issue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 101
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Very Strange Electrical Issue
I just purchased a 79 Corvette. Having issues with wiper motor and heater blower motor. Every time I close the hood they quit. Open hood they work again. Ah Ha... it's the light switch under hood. I cut and wired together (by passed) closed hood and everything works great. Close the car door and it quits when dome light goes off. Something screwed up in door switches. Is it a ground issue. Hope someone has run across this problem before.
Thanks for any help on this. My mechanic doesn't know what it is either.
Thanks for any help on this. My mechanic doesn't know what it is either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Take a close look at your starter wiring. There is a ground wire that connects the under hood electrics: fan, wiper motor, engine bay harness to the bell housing, or its supposed to. Frequently it gets connected to the Battery cable stud on the starter. It causes all sorts of problems, wipers don't work and other weirdnesses. There is a stud on the firwall by the pass head that should have 1 or 2 black wires and a ground strap but its frequently kissing.
Check the wires on the starter first. This can make bad thing happen, things that smoke.
Check the wires on the starter first. This can make bad thing happen, things that smoke.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Take a close look at your starter wiring. There is a ground wire that connects the under hood electrics: fan, wiper motor, engine bay harness to the bell housing, or its supposed to. Frequently it gets connected to the Battery cable stud on the starter. It causes all sorts of problems, wipers don't work and other weirdnesses. There is a stud on the firwall by the pass head that should have 1 or 2 black wires and a ground strap but its frequently kissing.
Check the wires on the starter first. This can make bad thing happen, things that smoke.
Check the wires on the starter first. This can make bad thing happen, things that smoke.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
The ground wire is in the starter harness, smaller black wire, should be grounded to the bell housing like 6'er said. We see this a couple times a year, same issues you're having. Someone hooked that small black wire to the big battery terminal of the starter.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 59
From: Meldrim Georgia
I had the same problem.
2026 Loser of the Year
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 101
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I wonder who had to suffer thru all kinds of trial and error to come up with that fix. Thanks so much for the help. Now if I can get the stupid aftermarket steering wheel to make the horn work.
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 3
From: Boise ID
I would bet your problem is in the turn signal switch.
Last edited by Roozstr; Jan 7, 2015 at 09:43 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Well guys. I got under the car and found the small black wire just hanging loose. Connected to bell housing and BINGO..... it worked.
I wonder who had to suffer thru all kinds of trial and error to come up with that fix. Thanks so much for the help. Now if I can get the stupid aftermarket steering wheel to make the horn work.
I wonder who had to suffer thru all kinds of trial and error to come up with that fix. Thanks so much for the help. Now if I can get the stupid aftermarket steering wheel to make the horn work.
When I tell someone my car is not stock, I mean from tires through roof, miss NOTHING.....
