Took the Vette out Sat morning for a little drive. I had noticed the last couple of times I drove it that it had a little stutter when accelerating off idle...but no big deal. Starter didn't spin hard when I cranked it...but it fired up fine. Figured it had just been sitting couple of weeks. Drove to town to get some gas....and when I tried to leave it just clicked like battery was dead. Bummer!! Lucked out another gas customer had some jumper cables and it fired right up.

Watching voltmeter...seemed to be hovering around 13 volts. Decided to head home and ck it out. Checked output at alternator and found 14.3v. Checking at the battery only saw 12.2v. Hmnnnn.....

While it was idling, I started pulling on wires while watching the voltmeter attached to the battery. (It's behind right seat in the storage compartment- but I could see voltmeter through W/S.) Looked under fender at the horn relay..which is where everything happens on these old cars and sure enough one of the Phillips screws that attaches the wires to it was loose and I saw an arc as I moved it. Quick turn on a screwdriver and instant 14.3 volts at the battery! Guess what?....the little stutter was gone too. EFI doesn't like low voltage.

So the day was looking better since I didn't need to buy a battery or an alternator!

Point is to slow down and take a little time to diagnose stuff rather than throw parts at it. Saves a lot of time, aggravation and $$$. I guess second point is that you know your own car..and when it does something unusual (like spinning the starter slower than usual)..pay attention and find out why. Stuff changes for a reason and I was too quick to write it off due to wanting to go riding!

But did manage to get back out cruising around about 75 miles all together. My little hometown was having a car show so I decided to hang out there and son of a gun if I didn't pick up a First Place Trophy!

Nice day to ride around in a convertible with a little "boost" under your toe!!!




JIM

 

A story with a Happy ending!

 

congrads on winning a trophy and a bigger congrats for fixing your car without spending any money,not many vette owners can say that.

 

Congrats Jim. Any day you can correct a problem with the car AND win a trophy is a good day.

 

 

That put a smile on face.

Something similar happened to my car yesterday when I lost a brake light and signal light from pass. rear. I was sure the problem was at the back socket or bulb - and spent a good amount of time trying to solve it. Let it pass for a few hours - didn't stew about it - just changed mental modes.

Went back in the garage about 8:30 pm. Thought I would diagnose from the cockpit in about 10 minutes had it solved. The molex connector on the steering column had not corroded but lost continuity. Cleaned the connections instant power back.

65-StingRay

 

Jim you make a very good point. How many times whether it be here on the forum or horror stories about warranty work only to find the problem was actually a bad ground or loose wire all along?
Knowledge along with clear and logical thinking saves time and money....lots of money.

 

Horn Relay. Are they in a different location on C3's? Might need to eyeball mine. to the trophy, nice.
Good Gawd to that number in front of RWHP...

 

Congratulations, Jim!
Very similar thing happened to mine with the EFI. Was actually on the way to AutoZone and I noticed almost the same thing. Started kinda funny and on the way there a lot of hesitation, didn't want to accelerate. It literally died pulling into AutoZone. Went inside for what I originally came for and to 'cool off' and think for a second. First thought like you was to check the battery. The main ground post wasn't tight (still on though). Tightened it back up (replaced it shortly thereafter) and good as new. No need to buy anything.

 

Thanks guys. It all points to slowing down and thinking exactly how things work and figuring out what it can't be...and go from there.

I truly believe if you know HOW something works..you can fix anything regardless of the name on the side of it.

JIM

 

Electrics! - in the 16 years I've owned my '68 coupe, despite taking apart rear light housings, cleaning contacts and running fresh earth cables from the housings to the frame - one particular rear light occasionally fails to light-up. Hitting the rear deck hard with the soft side of my fist usually manages to re-connect the power and give full illumination................ me seeming to punch the car seems to amuse bystanders -

 

You haven't been parking next to any Triumphs or MGs with Lucas electrics have you??

 

Ah Ha! - you may have the answer Jim - it is parked in the same garage as 'er indoors's MG - albeit a late model car

 

I dunno. Probably still in its DNA!!

 

Good post, I remember back when I had a fouled plug, did everything to try and fix it, even got a second opinion and the consensus was the rings were going bad.

I eventually got it rebuilt and of course I put in parts to make it more powerful at the same time so I didn't feel bad about doing it.

I got the short block back and when I went to pay they said the fouling plug was a result of a misaligned intake gasket. Now I could have got mad but it was an excuse to soup the poor old engine up.

But it showed me from then on not to throw money at a problem and try and find the solution instead. You may still have to spend money but then again it could be free fix.