Little Green Relay - 3 Prongs?

[Ludigdrums]

ELECTRICAL HELP - Little Green Relay - 3 Prongs?

Well, the wires to my starter needed some TLC, as they heat from the headers after years got to them. I repaired connections as well cleaned everything. There were some extention wires that were not of the same guage as the originals, which I think has been cause some electrical oddities/ In general, I've been cleaning up all the grounds I can find. I also replaced the alternator 2-wire because on of the wires was almost loose.

So, everything seems very good...a marked improvement in overall electrical system, but then my battery light comes on and I hear a buzzing coming from under the shifter. It turns out to be a little green relay with 3 prongs. I unplugged it, and nothing seemed to change. The battery light stayed on, but everything worked correcty. The voltmeter was reading a good charge.

What gives? What is this relay for?

Thanks!

- Jeremy

 

[Ludigdrums]

Ok, so I found out that this is the choke relay. I have a Holley carb w/elect choke.

Anyway, here's what I found. When I unplug the 2-wire alternator wire, the bat light goes out, and the relay stops buzzing. All the connections are good and hooked up the correct way. I don't get it.

Any thought?! Thanks...

- Jeremy

 

[curtis]

I had a similar problem when I put my engine back inafter overhaul. Turns out that one of the wires down there was a ground and I had it hooked to the big positive on the starter when it should have been hooked to a bolt on the bell housing to block. It fried the hood switch. It's worth taking a second look at those wires you put on the starter.

 

[Ludigdrums]

Hmmm, I checked everything, and it seems OK. In fact, I've been cleaning all the grounds I can find to make sure they have good contact, and giving them a special electrical spray cleaner/anti-corosion stuff.

I have noticed my electrical system is getting stronger (ie: not taking so much juice to run the windows, defroster, etc.)

So, I don't know why or where this problem came from.

Any other thoughts suggestions?!

- Jeremy

 

[lone73]

Buy a Haynes manual and check out correct wire colors to the starter. Last thing you messed with was probably the cause or related to it. I see it all the time in my line of work.
good luck

BTW, didn't you have brake prob's about 6 months ago? What happened with that? How'd that turn out?
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[Ludigdrums]

Hey lone73, I do have the Haynes as well as the Chiltons, Shop Manual, & Assembly Manual. The thing is, someone was down there with all that wiring and it's not doing to well. They, made extentions for some of the wires with smaller guage wire, and the connections were failing. So, all I did was repair those, and one of them I just removed the extension (of smaller wire) and connected it directly the the starter. No wires were changed. Very strange.

Yes, I did have brake problems. Turned out great! It all stemmed from my left rear wheel almost falling off, and being held on with 1 lug nut and missing 3 studs. The vibration from that incident combined with the pounding I did in order to remove the remaining 2 studs, so that I could put all new ones in, messed up my bearings/runout which was causing my rear brakes to suck air. Put new Van Steel offset trailing arm assemblies on with a bunch of other new stuff, and I was back in business. However, pretty soon after they were working the front calipers started sucking air. Probably due to their old age mixed with not driving it for a couple months, etc. So I replaced those calipers and rotors, because they did not have enough surface left to cut. I set the runout, and everything was great! I left it this way for a little while just to prove to myself that the problem with the rears was the trailing arms. Plus, Van Steel deducted $150 because of excessive runout on the left trailing arm and it coulodn't be used. So, I just recently replaced the rear calipers as well, just so I now know that I have all new rotors and brakes. Plus, while changing the rears and pressure bleeding, the right rear wasn't getting any fluid. So, I replaced the little hoses, and bingo!

So, yeah, everything worked out great, and I got new wheels and tires http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48972

The brakes are awesome, although the pedal is a little furthur down than you'd expect or want it to be. But that's normal. I heard that the correct pedal travel for our Vette's is you should just about be crushing your toes if you put your other foot under the pedal and press down (of course as long as your feet aren't too giant)

Thanks for asking!

- Jeremy

 

[81LT4]

I had a similar problem when I put my engine back inafter overhaul. Turns out that one of the wires down there was a ground and I had it hooked to the big positive on the starter when it should have been hooked to a bolt on the bell housing to block. It fried the hood switch. It's worth taking a second look at those wires you put on the starter.

\

LOL, I did the same exact thing, kinda fried the hood switch wires :ugh

 

[mkapp7879]

[QUOTE They, made extentions for some of the wires with smaller guage wire, and the connections were failing. So, all I did was repair those, and one of them I just removed the extension (of smaller wire) and connected it directly the the starter. No wires were changed. Very strange.- Jeremy[/QUOTE]



Are you sure those weren't fusible links? Two of them at the starter, at least on my 78s and 79.
Mike

 

[Ludigdrums]

Yes, they were. I hadn't realized that at the time. I went back and replaced them with the proper fusible links.

The whole time it ended up being he stupid alternator! I suspected that from the beginning, but based on the diagnostics from the shop manual, it was pointing towards a short in the brown wire. A lot of good that did me!

In the end, I messed up my cruise wire accidentally when I tighten the bolts back up after dropping the steering wheel down. I had everything apart! The cruise wire ended up getting caught and severed. I reattached the wires, and unfortunately it still doesn't work. So, I made myself another problem that wasn't there in the first place!

You gotta love it!

- Jeremy