Miserable little '80

[JENSHAMMER@HOTMAIL.COM]

Everytime I get one thing fixed, 2 more break. It's usually kind of like this with older cars, but my '68 camaro had much less trouble than this. Much to the annoyance of all, I am going to make a large numbered post, if anyone has answers to any of the problems, please reply. These are in chronological order.

1. Sounds like the brake booster is leaking vacum. Any fixes? Or just replace?

2. Gauge/dash illumination is out. Checked all fuses, they look good. ???

3. Tail lights keep going out. Fuses blown, maybe related to #2? A ground somewhere I'm guessing, where to begin? Works when the car isnt running, as soon as I start it... pop goes the fusey.

4. Heater Core = SH**, to bypass what size adaptor do I need to go straight from the block to the pump? Is it an inline adaptor or is there an adaptor at one end to avoid unsightly lump of metal inline?

5. Was told "rear alignment adjustment bars" are froze up. Any official names for these magical bars? Is this a fix-em or a replace-em?

6. I need a new c3.

7. Anyone have a 350 or 383 with 300+ HP and lb/ft for sale? This 190 HP nonesense is getting old.

8. Who makes a drop in 140 mph speedometer? Do I use the same speedo cable and the same plastic insert from my 200-4r? I'd like to use the same odometer and tripmeter as stock.

9. I'm tired of complaining. Have a nice day all, thanks for any help you may have.

 

[gravismaximus]

the gage lights might be part of the insterment cluster. the ground is on the left hinge pilar about the courtsy light.----sounds light a short in the tail lights with somthing with a lot more juice, maybe rear defroster thats 30 amps.-----i think its a 5/8 pipe adapter for heater core. why not just use a plastic insert and cut the exsiting hose's.----the rear sturt rods is what i call them or lateral links do not move, theres a excentric there that moves, which you would have to buy new.-----just what i think hope it helps

 

[LanceB]

I feel your pain. I have been working on a 928 Porsche for my Dad and my 81 Vette is child's play next to this over-engineered money pit. At least when my Vette has problems that get beyond me SOMEONE can fix it, probably reasonably. Not $100 an hour. Fun car to look at, but I'm not sure if my passion for sports cars is going to be able to go that far. Maybe I need a new hobby.

 

[jdp6000]

Break booster could be an easy fix. there is a "one way check valve" in the front of the booster where the hose plugs in. Pull it out and off the hose. You should only be able to blow one way.

You dash lights may not be working for one of two reasons. All the bulbs ar blown (not likely) or the printed circiut board has a break in it. Pull out the center cluster and check the circiut with a test light. Come to think of it, also check the switch, so its three things.

The heater core can be bypassed where the two hoses go into it. Look under the passengerside behind the front wheel you will see the two hoses going into the housing. Cut them off and join them.

As for your brake lights? an funny wiring under there? Make sure nothing is spiced into the harness.

Jim

 

[vette-dude]

Check your brake light sockets (pigtail) inside the mounting base. Possibly the phenolic separator has broken and one of the bulbs is shorting to ground. The reason why it might not blow the fuse till you get in is that you probably blow the fuse when you step on the brake. This would short the tail lamps and pop the fuse. Happened in my 62 and dang near burn up the wiring harness. Just a thing to check. Good Luck.


Randy

 

[81 Corvette]

number 5 sounds like strut rods. easy enough to replace, aassuming you get teh shock mount removed.

number 7 summitracing.com, jegs.com, ebay.com, pacechevrolet, salee chevy

lots of engine builders out there

 

[JENSHAMMER@HOTMAIL.COM]

brake lights are working, as are reverse lights. Rear taillights are on with headlights, until I start it. Tried starting with lights on, pop. starting with lights on, then turn off, aleady popped.

 

[jdp6000]

Which fuse blows?

Why are your reverse lights on if the ignition is off?? Is your car a standard or automatic?

Sounds like wiring issues.

Ignition off...do your hazard lights work?

Jim

 

[JENSHAMMER@HOTMAIL.COM]

Ignition off, everything functions normally (if I again replaced the fuse since it was last run). Hazards, taillights, brake lights, reverse. Once started, only brake lights work, havent checked the rear blinkers. I dont have access to a fuse box diagram, the words on mine are long gone, but it's the fuse that was, I believe, labeled "tail lamps"

 

[JENSHAMMER@HOTMAIL.COM]

forgot... car is auto, reverse lights only work when headlights are on, ign is powered but not motor. Everything worked fine for months until 3 days ago

 

[jdp6000]

We need a diagram. Anyone have one to post?

My 1982 has three fuses....20 amp tail LP (for your taillights), 20 amp DIR SIG B/U (for your turn signals) and 20 amps Stop/haz (brake and hazard lights). From what you are saying you are blowing multiple fuses...all but the Tail LP.

You also should have two round relays in the panel...one is signals and the other is hazard lights...pull them out one at a time see if it makes a difference...they maybe shorted.

Do you have a fuse greater then 20 amp in any of these places??

Your headlights should not be effected by any of these fuses. The breaker for the headlights is in the headlight switch. Do your headlights continue to work under all circumstances???

Have you changed something in the past few months?? Have you done something??? Anything???

Jim

 

[jdp6000]

forgot... car is auto, reverse lights only work when headlights are on, ign is powered but not motor. Everything worked fine for months until 3 days ago

so you are saying that once you start the car, lights off and put it in reverse the fuse blows....correct???

Jim

 

[jdp6000]

One more thing. You have a Stop light switch down by your brake pedal. You will see a spring loaded mechanism with some wires attached to it. check it, maybe you accidently kicked it and caused some damage to it....

 

[JENSHAMMER@HOTMAIL.COM]

in my haste to vent about my frustration, I may have been less than clear about this problem and the sypmtoms. Here goes..

Hazards, always work.
Blinkers, work as normal.
brake lights, working normal.
reverse lights, working normal.
rear lamps, with new fuse, working with ign off, headlights on, working with ign on headlights on, no matter what, when I start the motor, the tail lamp fuse blows. it is the only fuse to blow.

This may have occured at the same time the gauge illumination went out, maybe not. No fuse dealing with gauges (or anything besides rear lamps) are blowing out.

Have not checked the flashers or stop light switch by the brake pedal, nor the phenolic(?) something or other in the actual tail lamps.

No wiring has been added nor removed from anything remotely connected to these items. Just the usual, stereo, alarm and all that.

Rear defroster? dont think I have one of those?

thanks for your patience everyone, I appreciate it. Jens

Thanks for your patience everyone.

 

[jdp6000]

Taillight circuit includes your taillights, your rear market lights, your license plate light and your spare tire light (optional I think). Your ground is behind the passenger rear wheel on the frame just up and to the left of your muffler. Check it.

Now you say your guage lights don't work? They are controlled by the headlight switch. Your problem maybe in the switch.

Check the ground, the tail light bulbs, the license plate bulb and the spare tire bulb. If all is fine check the switch. Two plugs go to it. Pull one and try the switch, then the other. If you can get the switch out examine it. It may be blown.

Getting the switch out is a bit of a pain.

Jim

 

[jdp6000]

According to the shop manual. Power goes through the tail LP 20 amp fuse...then to your light switch....then to your tail lights...in line is the directional signal switch....on the other side of the light switch the green wire goes back to your panel and activates your gauge lights. Its beginning to sound like the switch....

Jim

 

[80convertible]

Here is a link that contains the all electrical diagrams for a 1980 corvette. Good Luck!


http://iotech.no/corvette/technical/1980_schematics/index.htm

 

[JENSHAMMER@HOTMAIL.COM]

Ok, we may have progress. I dont presume to know WHY this worked, and why it failed.

I noticed the "radio" fuse was right next to the tail lamp fuse, for whatever reason I took the fuse out of radio, replaced the broken fuse in tail lamp with it. keep in mind, car hasnt been driven all day on account of changing header gaskets. Everything worked! thats tails lamps, rear marker lights AND guage illumination.

Put another fuse in radio, everything still worked.
Decided to more the place where my stereo's ignition power line plugs in from right above the radio fuse, to far away in the upper left corner where my MSD box used to plug.

drove home, 20 minutes, all is well, as I am parking, POP goes the fuse.

Maybe heat related? vibration related? Hope this gives some new insight.

Thanks!

 

[jdp6000]

Sounds like you are on to something. Try putting a new fuse in for the Tail Lamps. Disconnect the wire you mention for the stereo and see how things work. By the way...Tail lamp fuse is 20 amp, Stereo fuse is 10 amp.

Jim

 

[bill81vette]

drove home, 20 minutes, all is well, as I am parking, POP goes the fuse.

sounds like something shorted out! check your brake switch and your wiring for the brake lites
good luck,bill