bloodvette80

Tried again with my electrical problem. this time i took out all the fuses, and well, i forgot my meter at work, so i was working blindly. I'm starting to think it has to be a ground. Especially that the head lights come on (dimly) with no fuses. Some guy just told me at work that the headlights are un-fused. Anyone know? and any ideas? before i start an electrical fire and burn my behind.

Dwayne 76

Sounds like a short, if the battery cable is getting hot as soon as connected. On the headlight actuator there should be two sets of wires that connect to each side. One is for the headlight power, the other is a single wire, blkack I think. On my '76 the single black wire was disconnected on the pass side, but all the lights worked. I'm wondering if perhaps mine was pulled for the same reason. Again, just guessing, trying to help.

bloodvette80

I would think that the black wire going to the light would be the ground and needed for the lights to illuminate... if yours is disconnected, it must be using a different gound in the loop and backfeeding which may work fine.

Dwayne 76

Hmmm, I was thinking that perhaps the wire was casuing the short, though if it is it to would be a tad bit warm. It could be the wire that feeds the headlights has been stripped over time and is connecting with the frame, or some other ground location.

bloodvette80

K i mentioned a poor ground. Well my headlights didn't go dim until later, which turned out to be a dieing battery, but earlier in the evening I was trying the starter and it wouldnt enguage. I think i may be missing my ground strap, that woven cable ground strap connecting the block to the frame. That would explain the chattering starter..... :confused:

Dwayne 76

Ahhhh, good point. I forgot about your statement, was just thinking about the dimming headlight.

flynhi

I'd suggest starting at the battery and working your way forward rather than the opposite. Check the positive from battery to starter and from starter to laternator and horn relay.
Check the ground from battery to frame and from frame to block.
After you are convinced that these are perfect, move to individual systems.

bloodvette80

First thing i guess is to measure the voltage difference between the frame and the block, it will be zero with a ground strap and maybe 1 or 2 volts if its missing, during cranking may go higher. I"ll do that tonight.

Glutamine83

should i bring the jimmy beam over tonight?

bloodvette80

quit teasing

Jim Shea

I had a spark plug shield on the passenger side (near the starter) cut into the cable from the battery.

81' Corvette Guy

Know when I replaced my starter and hooked up the wires to the solenoid the fusible link was contorted and made contact with the frame. When I went to go hook up the battery sparks galore...just be careful. Rechecked the wiring and found the fuseable link touching metal fixed it and wahla...no more sparks. Would think if you had a short..when you connected battery there would be some, at least, small sparking going on...!

bloodvette80

yes that there is. not a fireworks show but some small sparks.