Topic: Need Help Identifying Interior Items
in Forum: C3 Interior
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Hi All!
|UPDATED|5/23/2014 7:31:20 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
The other day, I decided to get a little gutsy and began disassembling some of my interior to see what was going on behind panels. I'm having issues with my gauges not working (Tach., Water, Oil, Clock and Cigarette Lighter...another ball of wax) and wanted to see if I could find something obvious.
When I removed the passenger-side map holder panel, I saw a few items I'm not familiar with. See pics below.
One is a cluster of clipped wires (circled) and a silver apparatus (with the arrow pointing to it).
Another says "Flasher". Can someone help identify please? Could those clipped wires be affecting my gauges?
(So sorry for the HUGE pics. I have no idea why they will not re-size 
)
)
(modified super-sized pics to links-aapple)
|UPDATED|5/23/2014 7:31:20 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
"You know, we always called each other goodfellas. Like you'd say to somebody: You're gonna like this guy, he's all right. He's a goodfella. He's one of us. You understand?"
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BTW - I did replace all of the interior fuses that I COULD FIND...all the fuses in the fuse panel right above the gad pedal, and the fuse behind the removable foot panel with the rear heat/AC control knob on it. Still no dice with the non-working gauges.
"You know, we always called each other goodfellas. Like you'd say to somebody: You're gonna like this guy, he's all right. He's a goodfella. He's one of us. You understand?"
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
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
The first pic is of the radio amplifier. The wires in question also appear to be part of the radio system.
The second pic is of the Emergency/Hazzard Flasher.
The second pic is of the Emergency/Hazzard Flasher.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Ah okay, thanks!
So in other words, nothing to do with my gauges.
The clipped wires do make sense now that I know what they are. There is an aftermarket radio and speakers in the vette. The installer must have bypassed those wires for some reason.
Neat to know that is the factory amplifier!
"You know, we always called each other goodfellas. Like you'd say to somebody: You're gonna like this guy, he's all right. He's a goodfella. He's one of us. You understand?"
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
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
The center dash wasn't deep enough to put in a "normal" GM/Delco radio....they had to separate it into two parts to make it small enough to fit.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Jason,
Is your fuel gauge working? The fuel, oil, and water gauge all get power from the same PINK wire that runs behind the dash. (At least I think that's true for your car... I'm not sure what year they went from a mechanical to electrical oil pressure gauge.) The clock not working is typically Corvette. It's rare that you find any of them still working. But, the wire that powers your clock is also tied to your cigarette lighter (12v on continuously).
The tach is cable driven on your car and not electronic. Look for a heavy black cable running from the base of your distributor running inside the car. If it's not there, or a previous owner has installed a modern HEI ignition that didn't have a cable drive, that explains the tach. (A decent HEI dizzy is about $150, vice $500 for one with a cable drive. A lot of these cars have the tachs disconnected for that reason.)
And speaking of the tach, does the "brake" light bulb work when you engage your ebrake? That's also powered from the pink wire.
Do me a favor, and post a picture of your distributor. Is is relatively small and round, with a separate coil? Or larger, with only eight plug wires and no center coil wire? I have a hunch... If someone put a modern HEI dizzy in, they would have to have run a new, non-resistor wire to it which means they hacked into the harness somewhere. That could explain all of your symptoms.
Is your fuel gauge working? The fuel, oil, and water gauge all get power from the same PINK wire that runs behind the dash. (At least I think that's true for your car... I'm not sure what year they went from a mechanical to electrical oil pressure gauge.) The clock not working is typically Corvette. It's rare that you find any of them still working. But, the wire that powers your clock is also tied to your cigarette lighter (12v on continuously).
The tach is cable driven on your car and not electronic. Look for a heavy black cable running from the base of your distributor running inside the car. If it's not there, or a previous owner has installed a modern HEI ignition that didn't have a cable drive, that explains the tach. (A decent HEI dizzy is about $150, vice $500 for one with a cable drive. A lot of these cars have the tachs disconnected for that reason.)
And speaking of the tach, does the "brake" light bulb work when you engage your ebrake? That's also powered from the pink wire.
Do me a favor, and post a picture of your distributor. Is is relatively small and round, with a separate coil? Or larger, with only eight plug wires and no center coil wire? I have a hunch... If someone put a modern HEI dizzy in, they would have to have run a new, non-resistor wire to it which means they hacked into the harness somewhere. That could explain all of your symptoms.
"Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any."
- Brother Dave Gardner
First let me just say THANK YOU for the detailed reply! This instrument panel issue keeps me up at night :)
Second, please don't think I'm ignoring your request for pics. I'm out of town currently for the holiday and away from the Vette. As soon as I get back in town I will get those pics up!
Again, thank you!
"You know, we always called each other goodfellas. Like you'd say to somebody: You're gonna like this guy, he's all right. He's a goodfella. He's one of us. You understand?"
Lifetime MemberSHELBYVILLE, TN - USA
Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942
Vette(s): 1976 L48 auto
1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
not tooo familiar with the 73 model year, but 76 isn't too far off, there is a ground wire that runs from one of the starter bolts to the dash, I know I have mistakenly hooked the ground to one of the hot wires on the starter(made sense to me at the time, who would put a ground wire down there??) all my gauges went funky, and I think the wipers came on by themselves, but.. only took a few minutes to realize what I did wrong... actually thinking that the wire was suppose to be on a bellhousing bolt and probably got forgotten in a transmission removal and was 'relocated' to one of the bolts for the starter... but, just a thought that you might have a ground issue.... cause there is no body ground for the dash... maybe take a test light and make sure you are getting juice to the gauges and go from there.. :)
StingrayJim 
NCM Lifetime Member #1936
Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94 
(click each one to see a bigger version)
Okay, finally able to get under the hood today to answer your questions. I have also attached the pics you requested (and a few extra).
To answer your questions:
-The Fuel gauge seems to float. I went to gas station today thinking I was near empty because that's what the gauge read, opened my gas cap, peered in, and had a nearly full tank.
-Clock not working...it actually started working today! I was messing with the clock knob, and the second hand started ticking! Messed with the knob a bit more to try and set the time, and the second hand stopped. I think it wants to work, but there is a "sweet spot" with that knob that I just cannot figure out.
-Lighter does not work.
-Brake light...does not work when E-brake is activated (I took a pic of the only pink wire I see. It runs from where you see in the picture, across the rocker arm cover and into the cockpit)
-Tach...I took a few pictures of the only black wire I see coming from the base of the distributor, it does not run into the cockpit, but onto the top of the (what I believe is) ignition coil.
-I also attached a picture of a melted wire harness I found in the passenger-side engine compartment. There are green and black wires running into and out of this (for lack of better word) harness.
I hope I have given you all you requested. THANKS AGAIN for any help!
(images resized - Norsky)
|UPDATED|5/30/2014 6:30:15 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
"You know, we always called each other goodfellas. Like you'd say to somebody: You're gonna like this guy, he's all right. He's a goodfella. He's one of us. You understand?"
Picture no. 4 is your A/C fuse
Picture no. 5 is your idle stop soleniod.
Need to take a pic of the base verticle shaft of your distributor showing from the intake manifold up to the bottom of the big part of the dist. That is where the tach drive is.
Picture no. 5 is your idle stop soleniod.
Need to take a pic of the base verticle shaft of your distributor showing from the intake manifold up to the bottom of the big part of the dist. That is where the tach drive is.
in Forum: C3 Interior
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