Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

Crazy issue!

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Old 11-03-2017, 10:04 AM
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Car: 83 Z28 / 89 IROC
Engine: 350's
Transmission: T5 WC / 700R4
Axle/Gears: Posi 3.73
Crazy issue!

Dropped my car off at body shop to paint and noticed the alternator appeared to not be charging. Asked them to charge battery if needed and I would get a new alternator. Well I had to have the car brought home on a flatbed because it will not crank. Charged the battery and nothing. Then when I was sitting in the car i pulled up on the e brake and then the gauges moved and the switch worked and the starter just clicks. (new starter). When i put the e brake down nothing again. What could be in that area that would do this. I am at a loss because it was running perfect. It makes no sense to me why moving the break does this. You can hear the fuel pump come on when you do this. Turn key move e brake pump comes on clicking starter. e brake down dead nothing. When down the brake light is on.

David

Last edited by dmm3369; 11-03-2017 at 09:46 PM.
Old 11-03-2017, 10:28 AM
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Car: 88GTA
Engine: 5.7TPI
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Crazy issue!

Well sounds like you're pinching some wires in there.
Old 11-03-2017, 10:32 AM
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Car: 83 Z28 / 89 IROC
Engine: 350's
Transmission: T5 WC / 700R4
Axle/Gears: Posi 3.73
Re: Crazy issue!

I looked and really only see on white wire near the brake arm. All the rest are far away. Its really odd...
Old 11-03-2017, 04:42 PM
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Car: 83 Z28 / 89 IROC
Engine: 350's
Transmission: T5 WC / 700R4
Axle/Gears: Posi 3.73
Re: Crazy issue!

Resolved. Bad engine ground. I guess the e-brake was creating some type of ground and was just enough to make it click.

Last edited by dmm3369; 11-03-2017 at 09:42 PM.
Old 11-03-2017, 06:17 PM
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Re: Crazy issue!

LOL Well yeah, the Ebrake lever grounds the warning light in the dash to remind you it's engaged. Funny it'd backfeed enough to allow anything else, but it makes sense.
Old 11-03-2017, 06:35 PM
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Car: 88 Firebird Formula
Engine: LO5 5.7 TBI/Ebl Flash
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 stock rear end
Re: Crazy issue!

Originally Posted by dmm3369
Resolved. Bad engine ground. I guess the e-break was creating some type of ground and was just enough to make it click.
Originally Posted by Drew
LOL Well yeah, the Ebrake lever grounds the warning light in the dash to remind you it's engaged. Funny it'd backfeed enough to allow anything else, but it makes sense.
WOAH lol i would be shitting bricks if i seen that happen to me. Crazy just a ground wire.
Old 11-03-2017, 09:44 PM
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Car: 83 Z28 / 89 IROC
Engine: 350's
Transmission: T5 WC / 700R4
Axle/Gears: Posi 3.73
Re: Crazy issue!

Yes it was really messing with me Pull the break up and you have ground.. I changed the starter, pulled the console top off etc.....
Old 11-04-2017, 10:18 PM
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Car: '87 IROC
Engine: 5.7 Vortec w/ factory TPI
Transmission: WC T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 Posi
Re: Crazy issue!

This reminded me of my very first car, a 1975 mustang. When I bought the car the seller said that reverse didn't work. Well it did work it just caused the starter to engage! Somehow the reverse lights were causing the starter to engage.

I really hated that car...




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