Topic: 1976 with some electrical issues
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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The clock in my 1976 doesn't work. Would that be a fuse, rebuild or replacment issue? Also, my speedometer and tachometer are very dimly lit. I imagine I can replace bulbs in them, but do they need to come out of the dash? The courtesy light in the back of the car also doesn't work and the bulb is good, what else could be wrong? My windshield washer pump doesn't work either. Should I rebuild or replace? Last question, the Door Ajar light on the dash stays on. Any suggestions?
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WOW - that's quite a list...!!!
Guess I should be happy that just my clock is dead and the cigarette lighter doesn't work! Electrical gremlims are the worst in my book, mostly because I'm terrible at trying to figure them out.
Sorry I'm not much actual help, but know that I'm giving you all the moral support I can muster.


Former Member
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BRADENTON, FL - USA
Joined: 8/4/2002
Posts: 669
Vette(s): 1972 convertible 350 auto trans, delux int, air, ps, pb, t/t wheel, pw, 79,000 org miles Rare one year only color
The clock in my 1976 doesn't work. Would that be a fuse, rebuild or replacment issue? ususally the clocks just stop on their own from old age. you can test the line feeding directly to the clock to see if its getting power to be sure but i suspect its just dead, a common proplem for c3 clocks |
Also, my speedometer and tachometer are very dimly lit. I imagine I can replace bulbs in them, but do they need to come out of the dash? I suspect the headlight swith reostat. there is a spring that acts as a resister that controls the brightness of the dash bulbs. this switch can be removed and carefully cleaned with steel wool. or you can just try turning the know a lot and hopefully it will clean itself enough to help.
The courtesy light in the back of the car also doesn't work and the bulb is good, what else could be wrong? bad ground or short in the wire somewhere. try attaching a wire to the ground connection and connecting to a good ground.
My windshield washer pump doesn't work either. Should I rebuild or replace?the diaphragm on these pumps are known to dry up and quit. they sell kits to replace this pump diaphragm. and also new pumps. The diaphragm is a easy fix
Last question, the Door Ajar light on the dash stays on. Any suggestions?
Does the light go out when you push the switch on the body by the door? these switches can be adjusted but as i have found sometimes there isn't enough adjustment. go to a hardware store and buy some felt pads made for lamp bottoms, these are small circles of felt with one side sticky, locate where the switch hits the door and attach one of these there. it stopped my light from staying on.
Also, my speedometer and tachometer are very dimly lit. I imagine I can replace bulbs in them, but do they need to come out of the dash? I suspect the headlight swith reostat. there is a spring that acts as a resister that controls the brightness of the dash bulbs. this switch can be removed and carefully cleaned with steel wool. or you can just try turning the know a lot and hopefully it will clean itself enough to help.
The courtesy light in the back of the car also doesn't work and the bulb is good, what else could be wrong? bad ground or short in the wire somewhere. try attaching a wire to the ground connection and connecting to a good ground.
My windshield washer pump doesn't work either. Should I rebuild or replace?the diaphragm on these pumps are known to dry up and quit. they sell kits to replace this pump diaphragm. and also new pumps. The diaphragm is a easy fix
Last question, the Door Ajar light on the dash stays on. Any suggestions?
Does the light go out when you push the switch on the body by the door? these switches can be adjusted but as i have found sometimes there isn't enough adjustment. go to a hardware store and buy some felt pads made for lamp bottoms, these are small circles of felt with one side sticky, locate where the switch hits the door and attach one of these there. it stopped my light from staying on.
|IMG|http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/1301_1400/1333/br80.jpg |/IMG|
Breese,
If your cig lighter and other interior lights are working, then i guess your fuse is ok, since the clock runs from this fuse. My clock was working too well, up til recently... Too well?! Yes, strange but true, it worked fine, but gained about 20 mins a week. I found a really good website by a guy who had repaired his clock, but i'm damned if i can remember the address - i just printed it out and kept a paper copy. If you're getting juice up to the clock then i bet it just needs a clean up and readjustment. It's pretty simple to take apart, if you're gentle. Give its guts a spray down with some alcohol cleaner, then blow it dry with a gentle shot of air. Then a tiny bit of oil on the little shafts/gears. There's a set of points inside, that can burn out. Provided there's some metal left on them, they should just be filed clean. It'll need adjustment then, to keep time right. I'll have a look for that website, but if no joy there, i'll try and get you some step by step instructions from what i did. Mines dead on time now, and hopefully should last another 20 years!

I'll get back to you
If your cig lighter and other interior lights are working, then i guess your fuse is ok, since the clock runs from this fuse. My clock was working too well, up til recently... Too well?! Yes, strange but true, it worked fine, but gained about 20 mins a week. I found a really good website by a guy who had repaired his clock, but i'm damned if i can remember the address - i just printed it out and kept a paper copy. If you're getting juice up to the clock then i bet it just needs a clean up and readjustment. It's pretty simple to take apart, if you're gentle. Give its guts a spray down with some alcohol cleaner, then blow it dry with a gentle shot of air. Then a tiny bit of oil on the little shafts/gears. There's a set of points inside, that can burn out. Provided there's some metal left on them, they should just be filed clean. It'll need adjustment then, to keep time right. I'll have a look for that website, but if no joy there, i'll try and get you some step by step instructions from what i did. Mines dead on time now, and hopefully should last another 20 years!

I'll get back to you

|IMG|http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~eaztl1/images/vette_4_sig.jpg |/IMG|
Red 1980 350 auto w/ quickshsift
Edelbrock intake / carb
Crane Fireball cam
0 - 60 6.3s
Hey Breese,
Found the site for "clock repair and adjustment":
Have a look at http://members.aol.com/jjneyjr/clock/
Really nicely written set of instructions - like i say, if its not just a blown fuse, i'm 99.9% sure this'll get you going again. Good luck mate, electrical problems are definitely a bit of a patience test!

Found the site for "clock repair and adjustment":
Have a look at http://members.aol.com/jjneyjr/clock/
Really nicely written set of instructions - like i say, if its not just a blown fuse, i'm 99.9% sure this'll get you going again. Good luck mate, electrical problems are definitely a bit of a patience test!

|IMG|http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~eaztl1/images/vette_4_sig.jpg |/IMG|
Red 1980 350 auto w/ quickshsift
Edelbrock intake / carb
Crane Fireball cam
0 - 60 6.3s
It seems that like you might have the same problem that I had with my clock, there is a contact circut inside the clock that seems to fuse itself together, I rebuilt mine with a Quartz unit I purchased from Corvette Central it was pretty simple to do,It works great now the hardest part is getting it out...good luck
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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