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Topic: Haunted Electrical - Need Help

in Forum: C3 Electrical


Haunted Electrical - Need Help

Posted: 10/19/04 11:34am Message 1 of 7
Former Member
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Corinth, TX - USA
Joined: 7/16/2004
Posts: 94
Vette(s): 1976 L82 Stingray
Hey guys, thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Last night I was driving and after about 30 minutes my dash lights began to dim. The dimmer switch still worked but bright was not bright. Then I noticed my turn signals stopped working and gauges were barely working. Next my headlights/tailights got very dim and then shut off (within 10 minutes). My wife was behind me in a big suv so that was some help with the light. The vette began to backfire badly and started shaking like it was about to die.

I pulled over and shut off the lights - even though they were out - the engine idled back to normal. After a few minutes I tried the lights again and they worked but were dim - then went out again.

Luckily I made it home and didn't have to leave the vette on the side of the road.

I'm not sure where to start. The alternator and battery are new. Is there a headlight/dash relay that can go out and draw too much current? |headscratch| |headscratch|


|B|76 X coupe |/B| #s match - Classic White - Buckskin |IMG|http://webpages.charter.net/equestrian/76x.gif |/IMG|
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Haunted Electrical - Need Help

Posted: 10/19/04 2:21pm Message 2 of 7
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KERNERSVILLE, NC - USA
Joined: 1/13/2004
Posts: 1355
Vette(s): 1968 L-71 convertible
New alternators can be faulty out of the box. I'd start with a test to see if it's charging. Go to the battery next, new doesn't always mean functional. If your troubles started after the 2 new pieces, it's a good bet one of them is the culprit.
Let us know what you find and we'll go from there.


Haunted Electrical - Need Help

Posted: 10/19/04 5:00pm Message 3 of 7
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
Yup,
Sounds like an alternater to me. If the car started missing along with the lights slowly dimming, then that means that there isn't enough voltage being supplied to the charging system. The alternater probably puked then the battery alone cannot keep up with the demand of the system.
That's my .02 cents
Sarge |headscratch|



GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


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Haunted Electrical - Need Help

Posted: 10/19/04 7:25pm Message 4 of 7
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424
Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!
IF the alternator is working, you have bad connections. It is not charging.


Haunted Electrical - Need Help

Posted: 10/20/04 7:35am Message 5 of 7
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Canada
Joined: 11/27/2003
Posts: 147
Vette(s): 1974 T-top 454/400 auto w/delux interior, power windows, white w/black int.,American Racing mags w/Goodyear tires. previously owned... 1969 convertible - 427/390 auto w/hardtop 1965 coupe - 327/300 4 spd
If you have access to a volt meter, with the engine running you should have 13 to 14 volts across the battery. If 12 or less, you're not charging.



Haunted Electrical - Need Help

Posted: 10/20/04 10:14am Message 6 of 7
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Corinth, TX - USA
Joined: 7/16/2004
Posts: 94
Vette(s): 1976 L82 Stingray
Great. Thanks guys. I'll check the alternator. That sounds much better than what I expected.


|B|76 X coupe |/B| #s match - Classic White - Buckskin |IMG|http://webpages.charter.net/equestrian/76x.gif |/IMG|

Haunted Electrical - Need Help

Posted: 10/20/04 11:56am Message 7 of 7
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BINGHAMTON, NY - USA
Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3808
Vette(s): ......
My wife came home from church last sunday,and came in the house crying that her car just barely made it into the garage.she said all her lights and radio and heater went out on the way home,then all the idiot lights came on and flashed,its a 96 Olds cutlass,I asked her what the volt meter said b-4 it died,she said about 10 volts "why"?.after about 3 hours and $140.00 later it was running like a top again what a P.I.T.A. that was to change,I'll never complain about working on the Vettes engine again,at least you can see what you are doing under my hood and get to things. any way your problem sounds exactly like hers,ALTERNATOR check it out. |hammer| |thumb|


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in Forum: C3 Electrical


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