help with electrical short
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
help with electrical short
I am looking at a 1989 vette and seemed to be a great deal,body looks solid (needs a paint job and new rubber around top,windows and doors),sounds good and drives good.The problem is when I went to look at it the boy said it was a new battery but it had to be jumped.All of the digital gauges were running crazy but it didn't affect the driveablity.The boy said he thought there was a short behind the dash.I am wondering if he is right or could it be because of the bad rubber seals around the car letting water run into something (it appears to have all original paint, seals and gaskets.He's asking 2500 I talked him down to 2k but am I biting off more than I can chew?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
How good are you at tracing electical problems? If you aren't any good at it then you will have to pay someone. That will increase the cost of getting the car to where you want it to be in terms of funcitonality and enjoyment.
It is possible that water has gone into some areas and caused corrosion. You will have to look at the condition of each connection. Not a problem for wires that are exposed in the engine bay but for connections behind the dash, that means taking it apart.
It is possible that water has gone into some areas and caused corrosion. You will have to look at the condition of each connection. Not a problem for wires that are exposed in the engine bay but for connections behind the dash, that means taking it apart.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,889
Likes: 8
From: Whitefish Falls Ontario
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
How good are you at tracing electical problems? If you aren't any good at it then you will have to pay someone. That will increase the cost of getting the car to where you want it to be in terms of funcitonality and enjoyment.
It is possible that water has gone into some areas and caused corrosion. You will have to look at the condition of each connection. Not a problem for wires that are exposed in the engine bay but for connections behind the dash, that means taking it apart.
It is possible that water has gone into some areas and caused corrosion. You will have to look at the condition of each connection. Not a problem for wires that are exposed in the engine bay but for connections behind the dash, that means taking it apart.
If you are not mechanically inclined and a hands on guy you could be looking at a money pit, if you have to pay someone to work on it. Paint can run you anywhere up to $5-8k, weatherstripping isn't cheap, and to track down the dash problem could be time consuming.. The dash could be as simple as a bad ground.. The other question is how many miles??
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
I am looking at a 1989 vette and seemed to be a great deal,body looks solid (needs a paint job and new rubber around top,windows and doors),sounds good and drives good.The problem is when I went to look at it the boy said it was a new battery but it had to be jumped.All of the digital gauges were running crazy but it didn't affect the driveablity.The boy said he thought there was a short behind the dash.I am wondering if he is right or could it be because of the bad rubber seals around the car letting water run into something (it appears to have all original paint, seals and gaskets.He's asking 2500 I talked him down to 2k but am I biting off more than I can chew?
The panel most likely will need some work which can be $200 to $400 depending. Most of the problems with vettes tend to be grounds or connections. If it has a new battery and it was dead it sounds like a drain somewhere or maybe a convenience light staying on under the hood or sun visor, hopefully. If it was sitting awhile could be mice behind the dash (like mine) that ate the vacuum hoses but not much wiring. Either way a Factory Service Manual for that year is an absolute must!
From what I've read here the rubber molding is pricey and doesn't fit well. As for the paint job IMO $4 - $8K is, well not int the realm of reason for a '89 anything.
Buying a Corvette can be akin to buying a boat. Two happy days - buying and selling, maybe. If you're not mechanically inclined - don't!
Bill
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
It has 169k miles and i have 4 years to get it going for my oldest son's first car.I enjoying working on cars but I don't know a lot about electrical.I was hoping someone on here might have had the same problem.My dad said that vettes had problems with their gounds alot but could I be that lucky or is it the wiring harness is shot.Is something I can look for to be able to tell.Is the harness under the hood or behind the dash?
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
It has 169k miles and i have 4 years to get it going for my oldest son's first car.I enjoying working on cars but I don't know a lot about electrical.I was hoping someone on here might have had the same problem.My dad said that vettes had problems with their gounds alot but could I be that lucky or is it the wiring harness is shot.Is something I can look for to be able to tell.Is the harness under the hood or behind the dash?
Hate to be a kill joy...
but THATS a bad idea if ever........
Dash issues are fixable. Dash modules can be sent in for rebuild for $350 exchange..thats a full digital dash. battery drain...$75 hr at an auto electric shop. Them having the right equip to diagnose takes about 45 usually to find shorts, bad connections etc. They diagnose, you do the repair.
Paint.....Can't be done decent for under $1000...even if you do some of the prep. Car MUST be semi dismantled to paint otherwise the new skin will peel at every edge in a few short years. Trim, moulding, lights, all can add up to an extra $1000-1500 in added labor to take apart. Has to be done to get a decent paint job. Edges are a no-no in plastic cars. It needs to be a solid skin on whole body sections.
A son, whats he worth? He's toast if you drop him off in a car capable of breaking the tires loose at will. A boys first car should be a skate board. There are NO responsible 17 yr old males when no ones watching......
I have to wonder what other simple maint issues were ignored by this wanna be previous owner? oil changes? trans service? rear end service?
I'd love to find a drivable 'fixer-upper' for $2000...but one that hadn't been abused too badly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
I know a guy who owns a body shop. He had a customer that had him fix up a 1st generation Camero for his son. He told the customer to have the boy start on a Cavalier or something. Nope. Had to give him a Camaro. 3 days later the kid was dead.
A powerful V8 can be deadly. For that matter, a 36hp VW Beetle can also be deadly. Let them start off with something less powerful and with air bags.
A powerful V8 can be deadly. For that matter, a 36hp VW Beetle can also be deadly. Let them start off with something less powerful and with air bags.