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Topic: 9.5 on the

in Forum: C3 Electrical

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9.5 on the (1/5)
11/10/09 9:11am

maierar
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Southampton, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1980 dark blue metalic T-top coupe 2003 50th anniversary convertible

Joined: 7/12/2006
Posts: 17

wierd-stuff-o-meter.

The other day, with the car turned off (battery tender on and green) a LOUD buzzing sound started coming from the car. I thought it was a lawn mower outside the garage. When I checked, I found that it was coming from the instrument cluster above the radio. All switches were off and the ignition was off. I disconnected the battery and the noise stopped.

Monday morning I reconnected the battery and tried pulling fuses to stop the noise, to no avail I tried the fan to see if that was the noise (the noise was very much like a fan with a leaf stuck in it or a broken blade), but the fan worked fine with its usual sound. When I reconnected the battery, the second hand on the clock (which has always worked well) went backwards for 10 seconds and stopped, never to go again. The noise continued as I drove to my mechanic. About halfway there (1.5 miles) the noise got lower in volume and eventually stopped.

I'm thinking it had to be the clock, but it was awfully loud for so small an electric motor.

Anybody ever hear of this before?

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9.5 on the (2/5)
11/10/09 12:35pm

dskopp
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops, Going to remain as Stock as possible. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vetts Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!!

Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1958

Which car, the 1980 or the 2003?? I have an 81.

Dan

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9.5 on the (3/5)
11/10/09 2:26pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20128

That's at least a 9.5...
Your car should have a quartz movement clock, I think...maybe not. If it is a quartz movement, then the nosie doesn't make any sense. If it is a mechanical movement, then be vewy careful....if the point/contacts stick, and there is another issue with the clock, it can burn the car down. Make sure ya keep the disconnect OFF when not driving, until you can find the problem.
I can't think of anything in the cluster area there other than the clock that could possibly make a noise like that...

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9.5 on the (4/5)
11/11/09 7:55am

lukesvette

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HOWELL, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.

Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812

I'd think it has to be the clock - too cooincidental that it was running backwards around the same time....even if you don't think its the clock, anything happening in your dash driven by the battery is untra dangerous.

I would disconnect the battery, pull the cluster and and then the clock from the cluster and connect the clock to a 12V source on the bench.

If that's it, convert to quartz if you have mechanical....

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9.5 on the (5/5)
11/11/09 1:24pm

maierar
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Southampton, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1980 dark blue metalic T-top coupe 2003 50th anniversary convertible

Joined: 7/12/2006
Posts: 17

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure its the clock, also. I took your sound advice and disconnected the battery until I can pull the clock (next week). I spoke to Dom at Vettedreams (whom I think is one of the best restorers around, if not the best) and he concurs that it is probably the clock, and that it is not rare for the mechanical clocks to make a lot of noise as they wind out.

Anyway, thanks again.

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