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Topic: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on

in Forum: C3 Electrical

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (6/16)
8/28/14 10:49pm

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: 20129

Not sure off-hand, Brian. You should have one close to the starter solenoid, and several close to the horn relay on the driver side fenderwell. The wiring diagrams don't list what amp rating any of them are. Fuse links are color coded for amp rating, and some are also embossed with the amp rating.
So....when you turn the blower motor on, the car wants to die?

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (7/16)
8/28/14 11:49pm

Redwingvette

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Waterford, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Red coupe

Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1735

We'll I started out for Ky this morning. I new this could become an issue because I still had not found the original problem from Sayerday. I packed a few things including a fuse block for when it quit again. Lights on and driving for about an hour without an issue. Shortly after I turned the heater blower on to remove se fog off the windshield the power shut down for good. Sitting on the side of the road I attached the fuse block from the alternator battery supply which still had power to the horn relay and walls, I was off and running again. To play it safe I only used a 10amp fuse. No lights needed because the sum was up by then. Drove all the way without using anything on. This evening I tried the lights and had to increase the fuse to a 20 amp. I decided to go through everything one at a time. Once I turned the blower on the fuse would blow after a few seconds, not sure why so I will have to check it out once I get back home.

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Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans

Borgeson Steering box

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (8/16)
8/29/14 7:27am

Adams' Apple

Blower at any speed, or just on one speed(high, med, low)? The blower motor could just simply be drawing too many amps...might be on it's last leg. Blower motors will draw quite a few amps when first turned on. Low-med speeds run thru the resistor, but high is direct from the blower relay. The relay is there because of the high amperage needed to run it on high. If the problem is only with the high speed, there is an issue with the relay wiring, or the relay itself. If it blows the fuse on the low/med speeds, it could be the resistor block or blower motor itself.
Hope the rest of your trip goes well! Sounds like you at least have a chance......just don't use the blower. Big smile

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (9/16)
8/29/14 12:57pm

Redwingvette

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Waterford, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Red coupe

Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1735

You and I are on the same page. The blower is only a few years old and is a C 4 motor. This morning I tested it again and it did not blow the fuse so it be hit and miss like you said, it will draw more to stRt it then to run. I amhaving a food time here for sure. Thanks for your thoughts on the issue.

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Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans

Borgeson Steering box

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (10/16)
8/30/14 2:14pm

rraider1
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Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1165

I think this is similar to the post for AC wires Smoked same area dealing with the fusible links. I would be careful in this area I thinks its best if the fusible link gets replace properly. go to the local parts store get a link 4ga smaller than the wire it is protecting solder it in heat shrink over the connection and you are protected no BUBBA

https://www.c3vr.com/vrforums/c3-electrical/a-c-heater-wire-smoked/469952/

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (11/16)
8/31/14 12:09pm

nevr2ol
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Pensacola, FL - USA

Vette(s):
76, 4 speed, engine built to 375 hp.

Joined: 5/9/2014
Posts: 35

I'm not sure about the 73's but on my 76, the blower motor is always on. It does allow me to go from low to high and when turned to high, it goes through a relay on the dash. I read where the blower always being on is for the flow through ventilation. Hope you find the problem soon, sounds like your'e on the right track.

Bill

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (12/16)
8/31/14 3:24pm

Redwingvette

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Waterford, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Red coupe

Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1735

Thanks guys. I made it back home and now I will be looking into the issue further. I am not against using a band aid when it is called for but I always go back and fix it the correct way as soon as possible. I will keep you up to date when I have my findings.

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Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans

Borgeson Steering box

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (13/16)
8/31/14 10:26pm

Adams' Apple

nevr2ol said: I'm not sure about the 73's but on my 76, the blower motor is always on.

ALL A/C cars have the blower set-up like this. Non-A/C cars do not....they have an "Off" position, with Lo/Med/Hi fan speeds. A/C cars have low/low-med/med/hi fan speeds. It is in fact for air circulation. Thumbs Up

Glad ya made it home safely Brian. Big smile

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (14/16)
9/23/14 8:39pm

Redwingvette

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Waterford, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Red coupe

Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1735

OK I have an update finely. Sunday I had the chance to get back on finding the problem. I purchased the electrical prints from Dr. Rebuild,. They have a lot more details then the one I had from Lectric Limited. Any way, between the two I was able to piece it all together. To start with, from the factory the power comes from the battery to the starter. There a 12 gauge wire travels to a 14 gauge fusible link wire and then connects to a 10 gauge wire that travels to the horn relay. From there all the wires have fuse links and travel to what ever system they need to power. The alternator has a 10 gauge wire that also travels to the same horn relay. This wire is not fused. My best conclusion for this is this; If you had to run everything off the battery connection the 14 gauge fuse link wire would not be able to handle the load by itself. That is where the alternator kicks in and does most of the work. Now to my issue. A while back I added electric fans and a new 100 amp alternator to handle the new load. When I did this I disconnected the original alternator wire and ran a new wire back to the starter. This new larger 8 gauge wire also carried the power to the new fans. That by it self was not the problem. The problem came when I disconnected the old wire from the alternator to the horn relay. With this I caused the system to rely on the old wire coming from the starter to the horn relay. Over time it caused the 14 gauge fuse link to blow. I was lucky it lasted as long as it did. Anyway, everything is good now and I hope some one else can learn from my experience.

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Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans

Borgeson Steering box

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (15/16)
9/23/14 10:38pm

Adams' Apple

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Re: Lost all power for 30seconds the back on (16/16)
9/24/14 7:21pm

nevr2ol
Former Member
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Pensacola, FL - USA

Vette(s):
76, 4 speed, engine built to 375 hp.

Joined: 5/9/2014
Posts: 35

Nice job,

It's always great to be able to know your car well enough to track these gremlins down. Kinda funny though, we these problems start it's like we never want to see the car again but when it's right, it's the best thing on wheels.

Bill

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