Fuse Block Wires

[JohnnyJ]

I'm having great difficulty finding a problem with my "79" Vette that keeps draining my battery, if car not started every day. I think the problem is in the radio or courtesy systems. I wanted to run a new wire from the radio to the fuse block, but dont know how to get to the back of the fuse block. Original owner added wiring for a unit that was hooked up to the radio, but that has been disconnected. Area is pretty tight to get to. Any suggestions or help is appreciated...I'm not an electrical guy, but can figure out most mechanical problems.
Many thanks,
Johnnyj

 

[SwaveDave]

J.J.,

On my 1970, it appears that a bundle of wires come off of the back of the fuse block into the engine bay area ; id imagine that there is most likely a smaller bundle of wires that run into the dash as well.

Ill be curious to see what others have to say on how to access the back of the fuse block. It seems , that, on older cars...they didnt really take alot of time and care to route things in a simple manner or for accessibility.

Dave

 

[wicky88s1975]

Hey guys this comes at the right time. There is an aux opening in the middle of my fuse box. But I think that there is a designated circut for the radio by 79. I'll check my wiring diagrams and get back to you.

 

[SwaveDave]

Wicky,

The picture of your red corvette has a front chrome bumper...yet the description says its a 1975 . Can u explain ??? Thanks, Dave

 

[wicky88s1975]

That's a stock photo from the forum. I'm working on getting my own phot up there.

 

[Big "O"]

Johnny, your car has a built in alarm that probably is not operating, correct. A good way to check is to look just inside the engine compartment next to the windshield washer bottle and see if you have a horn. Disconnect the wires (careful orange is hot) and use some sort of tester to check for continuity. If this checks out to be the problem, your alarm is on and not turning off causing the battery to drain. To disconnect alarm, look under the driver side kick panel by the hood latch. There should be a 4 prong connector with light blue, yellow, black, dk blue/white wires hooked on to it. Disconnect it to do away with the alarm. Then recheck the two wires you pulled off from the horn to check for continuity.
This happened to mine and this fixed the problem.

 

[JohnnyJ]

Many thanks for the response. It seems like I've been working on this forever. I'll try what you suggested before the week is over.
Johnny

 

[Pancho]

Hi,

On our '79 we had a similar battery drain and it turned out to be a module under the passenger kick panel which sounded the buzzer when the headlights were left on.... pulled it (or the feed wire, I forget which) and haven't had a problem since.

The easiest way to find a drain like that is to install an ammeter in series with the battery cable, and start pulling fuses until the drain goes away (make sure the door jamb switch for the dome lights is kept depressed somehow). Without an ammeter it's a little more difficult.....

Hope that helps,
Chuck

 

[clar2001]

If you think its your radio pull the fuze if the battery doesen't go dead then you know thats the problem. or disconect the alarm so on .................................the ampmeter would be a better way if you have one

 

[MaineShark]

Pancho has the right idea. Hook up an ammeter to the battery. You should see the current draw reading on the meter. Pull fuses one at a time, until the meter stops showing the draw. There may still be other draws, like the clock, to look for a change in the reading, not necessarily a reading of zero.

Also, make sure the door switch that triggers the courtesy lights is pushed in, or you'll read the lights instead of your short.

Once you find which circuit the short is located in, then you can compare it to a wiring diagram, and find out which items are on that fuse. Then just go through a piece at a time, and find the problem.

If you don't have a wiring diagram of your own, post what fuse it is, and I'll look through my diagram and tell you which items are on that circuit.

Joe

 

[JohnnyJ]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I'll try to get to this during the weekend and let you all know what I find. This web site is great!!


Thanks again,
Johnny