<VV> In need of your expertise: issues with electrical system???

[N. Joseph Potts]

Three places to look (not necessarily in this order):

1. Opposite end of negative cable (where it bolts to the engine).
2. Opposite end of positive cable (where it connects to the starter solenoid
(under the car).
3. "Firewall" connector (about 18 cables), the largest cable, which has red
insulation. Open this connector, inspect for corrosion, burning,
particularly on that largest cable. If things are melted down in this area,
you will either have to replace the engine harness or rig a bypass for that
big red cable, which is what powers the whole car forward of that point,
including the ignition switch, which is why you can't light up the starter
when that red cable isn't passing enough current.

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org]On Behalf Of Greg Pirker
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:31 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> In need of your expertise: issues with electrical
system???


Lemme paint a picture before I dive into the problem.

I am the proud owner of a '65 Monza Convertible.  I really enjoy driving
this car and will find almost any reason to do so.

Friday was a bright and sunny day in Pittsburgh.  Temps in the low 70's.
Not very windy.  Lots of sunshine.  I was working from home and needed a
quick break.  This was a picture perfect
day to take the convertible out for a quick trip to COMP USA.  I was
enjoying the trip as part of the journey runs on what we 'Burghers call the
Parkway.  I get to cruise at 60-65 MPH but have lots of exits should I have
any issues (I lost a belt out there last year and had to fix it on one of
those exits.  Life saver.)

I got to COMP USA, bought my network switch and a Diet Pepsi.  Got out to my
Monza.  Put the key in the switch.  Saw the ready lights on the dash.  Not a
sound from the starter after I turned over the key.  I tried again to the
same silence.  I had the same issue two other times this summer and was able
to circumvent it by pulling of the negative battery cable and replacing it.
Then the car would turn over.  However, this time, it was a goner.  It was
worse now than before as I had added a total blackout to my problems.  There
were no interior lights, head lights, etc.

I called AAA and had them send me a flat bed to haul my Vair home.  The
gentlemen who showed up used to own a '66 Monza four door and he gave things
a quick look.  I told him what had worked before and how I thought it might
be a dead battery.  He got his emergency jump kit out of the car and jumped
the Vair to life.  Nice save on his behalf.  I gave him $10 for his time and
reminisced some more with him about Vairs.  He followed me home on the
Parkway until we had to take different exits.  With a wave and heartfelt
gratitude, I turned off and made my way back to the domicile.

When I got home, I pulled the battery and took it to Sears for a test.  It
turned out to be good and was charged to 540 Amps.  I took the battery home
and put it back in the Vair.  Things looked good as I once again got the
ready lights on the dash when I turned over the key.  However, when I tried
to start the Vair I got a fat lot of nothing.  Now I once again have a total
blackout as well.  There are no interior lights, head lights, etc.  Very
strange.

I pulled the battery and gave it a bench test.  It has 12.67 Volts on the
multimeter and when I tried to charge it on my trickle charge, it says that
the charge is complete. Things look OK from a battery perspective, but not
so good from and electrical perspective.

I have been working on this beast for almost five years and taught myself
almost everything I know. My dad passed away in 2000 otherwise I would have
called him first.  He would have driven over, fixed the problem with a bobby
pin, a gum wrapper, the shoelace from his sneaker and a beer bottle top,
proceed to give me some crap about not knowing what the problem was, and
then drive back smiling ear to ear, proud as hell for helping his son become
a car fanatic too.

Any hints, tips, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx in advance for your assistance.

Greg Pirker
Doer of Great Deeds, Champion Over Evil
Not so hot with the Vair (at least this week)