So I have run into a weird electrical problem, I just finished putting in a new motor and trans and now a lot of important things are not working. The car will not crank unless I jump the starter enable relay- then it turns over & runs fine with the key. None of my gauges work apart from the volt meter, and I have no headlights high or low. (interior and running lights seem to work fine). Things I have checked; general power at the battery and under the dash to working items, all the fuses in the fuse block, the two fuse links right next to the battery.

Some back ground info- The car has a Holley sniper system on it so a lot of the motor stuff has been unplugged already. It had been running this way for about a year with everything functional. (to include the tach signal from the Holley and even cruise control as I left all of the OEM ECM controls apart from the fuel/spark hooked up.) The motor swap was going from a 305 to a 350 and I kept the harness and all the connections the same, so no additional custom hacking and splicing going on during the change over. What ever happened seemed to have all happened at the same time during the swap as they were not issues before- so I am assuming all of these items are related somehow.

What are some items to check first? as I look through the wiring schematics it seems as though there are more fusible links that should be checked? The speedo not working was expected as Its not hooked up, but not having tach, oil, and gas is quite annoying. Any input/advice is welcome.

Thanks - J

 

Just to be certain; this is for a 1992 Camaro, that was originally built with a TBI-305 with a Borg-Warner T5 Transmission?

To your knowledge, the VAT-System is unmodified, intact, and functional?
Being that modifications have been made for the Holley EFI PCM and Wiring-Harnesses...
I can not completely relay on OEM Schematics.

I would first look at the Fusible-Links that originally were connected to the Starter-Motor (Constant Battery 12V+).
The Headlight-Switch for example, is powered (Full-Time) by the Battery via a Fusible-Link "A".



Schematics for a 1992 Camaro are available via the HyperLink below (lower half of the Webpage in the HyperLink):
HyperLink


After inspecting, and testing the Connections via the Fusible-Links at the Starter-Motor...
Then do the same at the IPBEC (Fuse-Panel/ Bussed Electrical Center below the Instrument-Panel).
Use the Schematics in the HyperLink (that I posted above) to inspect and test the Circuits via the appropriate Fuse...
For the inoperable/ incorrectly operable Circuits in your Vehicle.

 

Here are some of the Schematics that pertain to the Instruments, that are inoperable in your Camaro:

Gauges Fuse:








Also Instrument Lamps/ Illumination Fuse:

 

Wow ya important details first.... sorry about that. It is a 92 camaro. Vin E Lo3 with a t-5. As far as the Holley wiring goes it just runs in parallel with the stock computer. I unplugged everything to do with the tbi and just left the harness in the car untouched. The only things that got spliced into the Holley are 1. Tach now comes from Holley instead of stock coil. 2. fan relay is now controlled by Holley. 3. Coolant sensor is unplugged as the sniper came with a new sensor and I didn't have anywhere to put the stock sensor on the new manifold. Everything else is untouched or just unplugged if I remember right.

VATS as a system has gone untouched and was functional until the swap. (it had locked me out once a few years ago so it does still "work") That is until I jumped the starter enable relay. Then again it might not be powered at all- hard to tell right now. Will double check for a security light.

As far as the schematics/ and fusible links, those were the diagrams I was looking at so thanks for confirming I am in the right ball park. I will check the links by the starter, and probably power to the gauges fuse next and go from there. Is there any documentation on exactly where all the links are? seems problematic to know what component to check and not have a clue where it is.

Thanks

 

The links should be on the wires that are bolted on the power to your starter. sounds like that is the issue to me.