Topic: electrical system troubleshooting
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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Former Member
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STERLING, CO - USA
Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43
Vette(s): My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.
Thanks guys,
This morning I got the under the hood light working. It was a simple re-soldering of the positive lead and reattaching the ground wire. I'll be working on the alarm system for the next few days. Am I correct that the alarm horn is in the cavity created by the left front fender? I am embarrassed by my ignorance, but would it work to arm the system by turning the driver's door lock to the left and pulling he hood release? If the system is working, the horn will start beeping? I guess I'll know if I try. It was too cloudy and windy to run to Ft. Collins for the Corvette meet, so I'll save the gas money and use my test light and VOM. Thanks again. I really appreciate it.
Lynn
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Former Member
Send PM
STERLING, CO - USA
Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43
Vette(s): My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.
Well, the horn didn't go off. The fuse is the next place to check. That situation is kind of a wash. I think that the courtesy lights, clock, cigarette lighter, and alarm are on the same fuse. The cigarette lighter works, but the clock doesn't. The dome and courtesy lights work off the light switch, but I am waiting for the new timer circuit board; I'll check the fuse box.
Former Member
Send PM
STERLING, CO - USA
Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43
Vette(s): My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.
Well, the orange wire to the alarm horn is unhooked. That would suggest that: 1. hooking up the wire will set off the alarm, 2. some part of the circuit was defective/improperly adjusted, and the system worked incorrectly, 3. a previous owner got frustrated with a system that worked perfectly and had the wire removed, 4. something else that I haven't thought of. We shall see. Hooking up the wire would be best done now instead of twelve hours from now. Stay tuned.
Getting to the horn and its connections could be very difficult. I'm already bleeding.
Former Member
Send PM
STERLING, CO - USA
Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43
Vette(s): My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.
The new interior lamp delay timer circuit board came in today. It is a Wilcox unit that I bought from Paragon Reproductions. I just put it in and now the lights don't turn off. I left it on for a couple minutes, so the timer should have shut it off. Any ideas?
Lynn
If it is not a bad timer it could be that the headlight sw is turn all the way CCW or CW not sure which way but that will turn on interior lights and would bypass the timer. the lights are looking for a ground. here is the ckt http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/4201_4300/4221/ccck1.jpg
Former Member
Send PM
STERLING, CO - USA
Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43
Vette(s): My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.
I checked out the headlight switch. It was not turned on. The dome/courtesy lights turn on and off when I turn the light switch. I show a path to ground through the white/black stripe wires. They should ground when the doors are opened. The door switches just checked out OK. I am now checking a wiring diagram to see if a white wire goes through to the jack/spare light. I suspected that the white wire went to the T-top areas, but that is where the blue wire goes. The blue wire would be part of the alarm system. I think that I'll be able to sort it out when I figure out where both of the white/black wires go.
if with the timer disconnected the lights turn on and off with the headlight sw and then you hookup the timer and the lights stat on and the timer is ok you have a bad door sw or a ground on that white wire. here is what the inside of the timer is supposed to look like. 
Former Member
Send PM
STERLING, CO - USA
Joined: 1/10/2013
Posts: 43
Vette(s): My Corvettes are a 1978 L-82 Coupe with an automatic transmission. It has a Silver Anniversary paint scheme with an Oyster interior. I also have a 2003 Electron Blue convertible, Milestone Edition with an LS-1 and a six speed transmission.
Thanks VERY MUCH. The white wires show continuity to ground with the wires out of the door switches. I haven't cut the white wires to see which one shows the short to ground. The cigar lighter works, but the clock doesn't run. I haven't pulled the center gauge cluster apart to check the clock. The car was in storage for four or five years, and I don't remember if the clock ever worked. Any thoughts on where to go from here. I really don't want to take apart the wire harness that goes across the front of the dash. Any help would be appreciated.
Lynn
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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