Help diagnose - intermittent no electrical...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: portland or
Help diagnose - intermittent no electrical...
So there I was, minding my own business as usual...
Start the car to go to lunch today. No problem.
Then the thing just dies about a block later. I mean, dies. Gauges are reading zero, radio goes off, there is no electrical power.
I coast to the curb, check the battery connections, which are all good. Get back in and the volt are showing good again. Fire it up again and it dies a few seconds later...
Wait, wait, wait... And it comes back to life and runs for the rest of lunch. Very ODD!
The connections on the battery are all good. I haven't checked the ground yet.
Anything else to look for or any other ideas?
-Z
Start the car to go to lunch today. No problem.
Then the thing just dies about a block later. I mean, dies. Gauges are reading zero, radio goes off, there is no electrical power.
I coast to the curb, check the battery connections, which are all good. Get back in and the volt are showing good again. Fire it up again and it dies a few seconds later...
Wait, wait, wait... And it comes back to life and runs for the rest of lunch. Very ODD!
The connections on the battery are all good. I haven't checked the ground yet.
Anything else to look for or any other ideas?
-Z
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Help diagnose - intermittent no electrical... (Z-PDX)
Since battery voltage was good, I would check:
-battery connections
-ground connections
-connections at the block behind the battery
-battery connections
-ground connections
-connections at the block behind the battery
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Re: Help diagnose - intermittent no electrical... (Z-PDX)
After you check the battery cables the voltage looks good again right? It could be anything, but I'd look really close at both ends of the battery cables.
On the battery side the bolt that screws into the battery should be tight and the cable should not have any movement at all. NONE. Sometimes the bolt can fit poorly and cause it to appear that it is connected when it isn't as solid as it should be. This will cause intermittant dropout of the battery in the circuit and the car will die. Twist it just a little and it will look ok again. On the other hand it could be corossion or somethimg similar at the other end of the cables. Check all 4 ends and I'll bet you will find your cause.
On the battery side the bolt that screws into the battery should be tight and the cable should not have any movement at all. NONE. Sometimes the bolt can fit poorly and cause it to appear that it is connected when it isn't as solid as it should be. This will cause intermittant dropout of the battery in the circuit and the car will die. Twist it just a little and it will look ok again. On the other hand it could be corossion or somethimg similar at the other end of the cables. Check all 4 ends and I'll bet you will find your cause.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Henderson NV
Re: Help diagnose - intermittent no electrical... (Mike_88Z51)
Oil or grease and unseen corrosion make great insulators. A product I use, after unbolting terminals and ground points is CRC QD Electronic Cleaner. This stuff is excellent for restoring conductivity in connectors, etc. Two cautions: don't breathe the fumes and have plenty of ventilation when you use it. It wouldn't hoit to use eye protection, either. I repaired the left door switch on my 93 (cost $129) by carefully prying and wedging it apart with toothpicks and drenching it with QD. That was months ago and it still works fine. This is one product that you definitely want to keep out of the reach of children!
[Modified by vetteseniorcit, 3:47 AM 4/26/2004]
[Modified by vetteseniorcit, 3:47 AM 4/26/2004]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 980
Likes: 2
From: Chandler AZ
Re: Help diagnose - intermittent no electrical... (Z-PDX)
I have seen ignition switches cause this issue. IF it ever happens again, check things that don't go through the switch. Headlights, horn and break lights are a few goodies.
There are some fusible links behind the battery check them. Use a voltmeter and measure accross them not to ground. If you see a voltage of more than .5 volts, check it good.
Good luck
There are some fusible links behind the battery check them. Use a voltmeter and measure accross them not to ground. If you see a voltage of more than .5 volts, check it good.
Good luck
