No Juice

[MrGibbly]

Monday morning my C3 wouldn't start... Low battery. I got a jump and drove it around for a while (45 minutes) to let it charge back up. Good plan, right? It wouldn't start the next time I tried...

Today I took the battery in and had it tested and everything looked okay it just needed a charge so that signaled sick alternator to me. I swung by an AC Delco parts store on the way home and picked up a replacement.

Everything is back in the car now. Everything is hooked up but I've got nothing. Not even interior lights. My voltmeter says the battery is good for 12.02 volts. However, I can't even get anything when I hook the 'Vette up to my truck to try and jump it. Nothing!

I don't know much about the electrical systems of cars so I'm going to need some help. What sort of trouble shooting process would you recommend?

 

[Fishman]

I had the same issues a while back... just turned out to be a bad ground. May want to check that.

 

[The73vetteman]

I had something similar earlier this year after I left the car with the ignition turned on (yeah, dumb thing to do. will I ever learn?)

I ended up buying a new charger and putting the battery on charge for a while. Even tho' I was getting about 12V across the terminals it still needed a good long charge.

If charging it doesn't do the job then maybe there's a wiring problem. Check the ground from the battery like Fishman said. then just follow the wiring from the battery to the starter and to the ignition switch. Check you've got continuity all along the way.

'73

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Check your fusible links to make sure they are good.

 

[MrGibbly]

Check your fusible links to make sure they are good.

Bingo! Fusible link on the hot terminal of the starter. Glad it wasn't anything expensive! I guess that's why they put those there in the first place... Thanks!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yay,

I got one right!!!