81 vette wont start
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
81 vette wont start
On my 81 vette over the last 3 years i have rebuilt the power door locks, power window motors ect. while under the dash i thought i had disconnected the alarm system. the last thing i did was rebuild the horn system, so with that being said Last night the car sets in the drive way covered up I used the power lock in the door to lock the car. this morning got up unlocked the door put the key in the ignation switch the car alarm went off beeped 3 times tried to start it will not start. so i went for early coffee came home still wont start but there is a clicking coming from the steering wheel. HELP what do i do next
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I would reconnect what you thought was the alarm system. obviously it was not. And now your car does not start.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
Thanks for the reply the wires in the door were removed months ago, the alarm wires at the fuse box were removed months ago. I have driver this car almost every week end. but i have never used the door power locks to lock the car untill last night. this am went to unlock the door with the key and the horn went off, thus car wont start.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,257
Likes: 7,847
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Sounds like a aftermarket alarm with a disabler.
Once alarm goes off most aftermarket alarms simply disrupt the wire to the solenoid.
When removing aftermarket alarm systems one has to reconnect the wire that goes to start terminal on the solenoid.
simply removing wires will disable the starter.
But I am making a lot of assumptions here.
What alarm system?
factory C3 alarms do not have a disable feature.
Once alarm goes off most aftermarket alarms simply disrupt the wire to the solenoid.
When removing aftermarket alarm systems one has to reconnect the wire that goes to start terminal on the solenoid.
simply removing wires will disable the starter.
But I am making a lot of assumptions here.
What alarm system?
factory C3 alarms do not have a disable feature.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
disconnected ground wire to battery hooked up my trickle charger. Took my wife out for breakfast. when i got home hooked up up the battery car fired right off. I try not to over think things at my age iam 83. I spent 35 years as a union mechanical trouble shooter for a larger meat packing company being it was a strong union the electrical dept. gave me permission to do my own electrical work as long as i made a trouble call to are dispatcher so they would get credit for it. that tought me not to over think things . the wires in my vette there were another set of wires laying in the bottom of the doors i removed them. hooked up to the fuse box was the alarm system I removed them. as all of you should know there are a lot of extra wires that have aged and cracked . ever since i have done this i have had no battery drain it starts up every time, the only thing i did different was use the power door locks, guessing there might be a short there, to hot here in florida to do much out side work once again thank you for. any suggestions
