Hello everyone. I have a 1984 Camaro Z28 305 in bad condition. The previous owner did some sketchy wiring stuff. This is my first project car and I don't really know what I'm doing. Any help would be appreciated.


This all started when my dumbass friend thought touching the red and black wire in the headlight switch box (shorting it out) would make my headlights turn on in order to see if the bulbs were bad or the switch.

When we did this the car was on and when we touched the wires every interior powered component (radio, interior lights, door hatch, power windows, windshield wipers and taillights) stopped working instantly. This also made the brake lights and hazard lights stop working. (this becomes important later). I immediately checked all fuses and none of them looked bad but I replaced the taillight 20 fuse to make sure. I used a volt meter and all fuses where getting 12 volts and the fusible links where also sending 12 volts. After several things I tried I eventually got hazards, brake lights, and door chime to work by replacing the stop/hazard fuse as well as charging the battery a little more even though it was already at 12.15 volts before hand. Not sure which one of these adjustments fixed the hazards (turning signals do not work just hazards) and brake lights.

Doing some research most people said the problem was the fusible link, I have 2 fusible links, one splits into 2 red wires (This one seems powers hazards and such) and the other is a single red wire that I believe powers everything inside. This fusible link is giving 12 volts and I tested multiple other spots from there to the fuse panel and all of them where receiving 12 volts. Recently I tested the Tail 20 fuse and it was not receiving any voltage (it was receiving 12 volts a few hours before hand for some reason however) even though the wires coming through the firewall where giving 12 volts. This leads to my conclusion that there is a problem with the wires somewhere in-between coming through the fire wall and the fuse panel.

I should note a couple things.

The first is that, when I turn the key the radio does make a sounds like its moving the cd player in it for a few seconds but then stops and does not turn on.

The second is when everything worked, whenever you turned on the hazards it would shut off the radio and all the interior lights. I believe they always turned back on after a few seconds after though.

Thanks for reading and again, any help would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like you have a bad connection in one or more of the Big Red Wires somewhere. Which still could easily be a fusible link.

First place I think I'd look is C100. That's the big square thing below and toward the fender from the brake booster. It has 2 halves: the half toward the fender has the wires going out toward the body (lights, horn, etc.); the half nearer the engine has the connections to the engine including the Big Red Wires. Probe them there, on the underhood side, and make sure they have power going into the connector, after you turn a few things on inside the car like the ignition, headlights, maybe the blower (whether any of that works or not is irrelevant; just turn it on). If they don't, replace the fusible links. (don't bother "checking" any further) If they do, pop the connector apart; it has about a 7mm or so hex screw down in the middle of it holding it together. The factory filled it with some brownish black gook that looks horrible; ignore that, and look closely at the pins themselves for signs of burning or other damage.

 

Hey there. Sorry for not replying in so long. I almost forgot I made this post.

I followed your instructions and determined the fusible links are working. I moved onto looking at C100. I pulled it apart and it did give off a bit of a burn smell but I could not see any visible damage. Although its hard to tell with all the brown goop. After putting it back on now my ac/heat fan works when I put it to high and the windows work. lights and radio are still down. Wondering if C100 needs to be replaced.

 

List EXACTLY what does and doesn't work, and it'll make it much easier to point you correctly.

What voltages have you checked so far, where? Under what conditions?