Electrical Problems

[wackshow]

Since I got my '81 electrical components have been "falling off." The interior light was not working at first and when I turned on the headlights, the radio lighting went out. Then the antenna stopped extending every time when I turned on the radio and now not at all. Most recently I lost the power windows and driver's seat 6-way adjustment!

Am I blowing fuses one by one or is my problem with grounding as I have heard Corvettes are notorious for poor grounding due to the non-metal framing?

 

[bill81vette]

They are notorious for having grounding problems,
have you checked the fuses??? or are you just guessing that they blew???
lots of times it is best to go thru and check that they are tight and even clean them up to assure a good ground.

 

[Peer81]

And when your bussy with that also take some time to clean all the groundpoints you can find. Only the frame is metal but the good thing is all things that need to be grounded are connected to the frame or the floorpan inside your vette. It sounds like you have several problems that only relate because they have something to do with electrical stuff.

To help you a little, at the rear left side (where your antenne is) there should be a ground wire attached to the frame. Loosen it, clean it and retighen it. Same goes for the big ground wire connected to your diff crossmember. In the front just under bodymount #1 there are several groundstraps and a groundstrap to connect the body to the frame. I would clean that also. Inside there are several connected to the metal floor so that is a difficult one.

Groeten Peter

 

[wackshow]

THANKS!

Excellent advice. Thanks to both of you. I'll be sure to get on this in the next weekend or two.

In response, I have not checked the fuses yet, but I just know that they can be problematic.

Do you both feel grounding and fuses are my problems in all these situations or do you think I have something "bigger" going on in one or all the problems I've experienced?

 

[Peer81]

I don't know the wiring diagram from the top of my head. Maybe you can check if all these problems have something in common in the wiring diagram. But all I can see is that I don't see any relation between for example the power windows, 6 way seat and your antenna. Total different cables in your wiring harness and as far as I know, no connection between them or it should be directly by the fusepanel.
Good luck!

Groeten Peter

 

[LanceB]

The problem I had before on my 81 may be totally unrelated to yours, but I had fuses popping like crazy and it started out of nowhere. I changed the circuit board behind the center gauges, problem gone. It fixed a fuse popping (in the parking lights among other things) for about $90. I took it to two guys before this to try to diagnose and they just gave the car back to me and each said they had no solution. My radio/antenna reception still sucks. I plan on getting one of the CD players with the pre-cut bezels and going through the whole system at that point.

 

[markwrob]

I have a problem with my power locks not working. I changed out the switch harnesses at the doors because they looked a bit crusty, but still no power locks. Any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Mark

 

[21Again]

Power Door Locks Wiring (1980)

Here is a picture of the power door lock circuit. Although it's for a 1980 it's basically the same as the 1981 other than the two tan wires coming off of the C501 door actuator motor connector that goes to the anti-theft deterrent system.

 

[IrishJoker]

I have a problem with my power locks not working. I changed out the switch harnesses at the doors because they looked a bit crusty, but still no power locks. Any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Mark

Did you check the power lock relay? One of your best investments will be to spend the bucks and buy the shop manual for your car if you don't already have it. Also check the connections at the power lock switches.

 

[turismo177]

I'm glad I found this thread. I can lock my power locks by using either switch on the doors but neither one of them will unlock the doors. Any advice?

Thanks

 

[bill81vette]

check the pigtails inside of the door...
or else it could be the switches are going bad..

 

[jimbodiecast]

had same problem turned on headlights and radio light and instrument cluster lights went out i was replacing instrument bezell and the printed circut ground tab that ataches to the oil temp screw came off and caused the short every time i turned the headlights on i reattached the tab to the screw and no more short hope this helps