My 86 vert has some electrical problems that I could use some help with.

Lights under the hood dont work
Courtesy lights in the doors don't work
glove box/console light doesn't work
radio doesnt work
cigarette lighter doesn't work
a/c blower switch works on all settings except HI
Are there also courtesy lights under the dash and in the 'cargo' area under the convertible deck? If so, they don't work either (haven't looked to see if they exist - just seeing refrences in reading)

I started checking some fuses in the panel inside the passenger side door access panel = all seem fine. Thinking that there must be other relays/fuses but don't have any diagrams yet to figure out where those other locations would be.

Thanks for the assist ! This is my first vette - so still learning where everything is

 

Have you checked the bulbs? Test the switches also.

Did you test the fuses? Sometimes a fuse can look good but isn't actually working.

There are lights under the dash. Not sure about the back area since I don't have a convertible.

If the blower doesn't work on hi then you need to replace the resistor. That isn't expensive or difficult...unless you have the digital climate control then it is pricey but not difficult.

 

I think about 99% of those lights (including the cigarette lighter) are on the CTSY/CLK fuse.

A/C fan not working on high could be a bad relay if you have the C60 manual A/C or a bad fan module if you have the C68 digital A/C controller.

 

not to put a dampner on things...mine was a bad connection at the fuse box itself, the hot wire going into the correct fuse wasnt getting to the "fuse clamp/holder" thingy. Things worked if I jumped a hot wire to the "outgoing" side of the fuse holder thingy.

 

Test the CTSY/CLK fuse with a meter

HVAC info from my 86 FSM

http://members.shaw.ca/dankai/HVAC%20Electrical.pdf

The previous owner may have unplugged the under hood lights. Follow the wiring from lights down into the front corners. There is a connector for each light.

 

I changed the CTSY/CLK fuse and instantly all the courtesy lights came on. I didn't check the under hood lights or the cigarette lighter, but figure those would've probably worked since everything else did. When I turned on the ignition, the fuse blew.

I also bought a new blower relay and tried it out. The AC fuse flew when I turned the switch to HI.

I have a service manual on order - until then, anyone have any ideas on what is shorting out?

 

Ok - status update - I now have the FSM and I've been looking through it. I'm on page 63-2 thru 63-4 at the moment (thanks to Agent 86 for also providing a copy).

System Diagnosis
1. Blower Motor Test - I skipped this one since the blower was working (just not on hi)

2. A/C Mode Selector Test - I skipped this one because I'm still trying to figure out how to remove the dash panels to get to the control head connectors. Any insight here? There are 3-4 screws on that dash piece, but it still won't come loose. Do you have to remove the other pieces too?

3. Blower Switch Test - Skipped for the same reason as test #2

4. Blower Resistor Test - all within tolerance

5. Blower Relay Test - Voltages were correct. Resistance to "E" was below 15 ohms and I didn't check to "C" because I didn't have a wrench to remove the negative batt cable (re-arranging my garage for so the vette can be inside and can't get to my tools.

So - If I look at the troubleshooting hints for "No Hi Speed" it says either Blower Relay or Blower Switch.

Is it possible to be 'both'? I changed out the relay and when I went to HI, I blew the AC fuse so seems there is a short somewhere. I'm thinking a bad switch combined with a relay that was bad (previous didn't blow the AC fuse) is what's causing my problem.

Thoughts on this "logic" ?

I'll tackle the blown CTSY/CLK fuse and lack of radio later


Thanks again for all the advice.

 

You have to remove the gauge bezel to remove the bezel covering the HVAC and radio.
The service manual shows some pics.

 

Update

System Diagnosis
1. Blower Motor Test - I skipped this one since the blower was working (just not on hi)

2. A/C Mode Selector Test - all within tolerance

3. Blower Switch - all within tolerance

4. Blower Resistor Test - all within tolerance

5. Blower Relay Test - Voltages were correct. Resistance to "E" was below 15 ohms and I didn't check to "C" because I didn't have a wrench to remove the negative batt cable (re-arranging my garage for so the vette can be inside and can't get to my tools.

So with these results I'm at a loss. Even if I completed the last test, the end result would've been to replace the relay...which I did but then the AC fuse blew. Stumped.

 

If you had a dime for every time you've posted that .pdf over the years...

 

found a small piece of particulate in the lighter. I replaced the unit and all lights and radio work. My blower still won't work on high but not going to worry about it for now. Switching gears to work on my antenna that doesn't go all the way up and a new speaker.

I'll consider this thread closed...thanks for all the advice.