Need help with a 1976 corvette....
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: chattanooga Tn
Need help with a 1976 corvette....
Well, i've had this car for 2 years. Im the 4th owner....The pervious owner had it for 7yrs and he put 500 miles on it in that time...Its pretty much my daily driver...Now to the problem, i went to the post office cut the car off, and when i came back out side 5 minutes later the car wouldnt crank, no lights no nothing...The day before i had taken at the battery to test my trucks alternator, and everything seemed fine that night...i got it started by arcing off the starter and i got the vette home....but after that nothing, replaced starter and solenoid, and after that it started up that night, and i didnt have windshield wipers, or power windows, and the radio wouldnt cut off with the key, alternator tested its great, and battery is good....Any ideas would be appreciated it is a stock 1976 pretty much all org.. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Re: Need help with a 1976 corvette.... (SuperDave2085)
Possible ignition switch? Check voltage at the exciter wire on the solenoid, when the key is in the Crank position. Let us know.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
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From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Need help with a 1976 corvette.... (SuperDave2085)
Years and years ago on my 1976 I had an intermitant start problem, I replaced the starter solenoid, then the starter. Still had the problem. Finally my brother in law found a wire that was shorting out under the distributor shielding. I don't remember exactly which wire but you had to remove the shielding around the distributor cap to get at it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Swords Check/Saws Check/Clubs Check/Claws Check/Hatred Check/Anger Check/Murmaid Check/Murder Check
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Need help with a 1976 corvette.... (SuperDave2085)
I had a similar problem. Battery the previous owner put in was undersized. Replaced battery and haven't had a problem since.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8
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From: chattanooga Tn
Re: Need help with a 1976 corvette.... (SuperDave2085)
The battery is good, has about 800 cranking amps which should be more than enough for the car....I redid my negative cable from battery today, still nothing...Replaced starter, Im going to take it off and check it again, same for battery. Im just about down to wiring, and fuses. I havent checked the ignition switch yet....So slowly but surely getting it narrowed down, hope to have on the road by sunday night
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8
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From: chattanooga Tn
Re: Need help with a 1976 corvette.... (SuperDave2085)
OKOKOKOKOKOKOK
I rewired some stuff.......And i put in new battery, car started right up, but not getting windsheild wipers, and some other accesories....Does this sound like Fuses or A short somewhere in the wiring....Let me know..............................ANDDDD DDDD thanks guys
I rewired some stuff.......And i put in new battery, car started right up, but not getting windsheild wipers, and some other accesories....Does this sound like Fuses or A short somewhere in the wiring....Let me know..............................ANDDDD DDDD thanks guys
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
Re: Need help with a 1976 corvette.... (Jack1976)
It may be a bad ground connection. Disconnect the ground from the frame and clean the rust off. Also check the ground strap from the motor to the frame. There are several small ground wires that attach to the frame and go to different places such as lights, rocker channels, and fire wall.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 166
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From: Troy MO
Re: Need help with a 1976 corvette.... (SuperDave2085)
Well its kinda wierd to have multiple problems happen at once, and not all fix at once, sounds like my luck. My 76 had ALOT of wiring troubles when I got it, ranging from fuses to bad grounds, but the bad grounds were the ones that were most of my troubles.( well that and the genius who rewired some of the bird nest that was there ) Its easy to run a test ground wire, thats for sure. Good luck chasing it down.
Loren
Loren
