62 electrical problem.

[Robert I.]

I have a 340hp 62. Engine has been rebuilt, new starter, new battery, new battery cables. When I connect the battery, the high beam light is on and both turn signal lights are on. When I turn the ignition on, the same lights are on and the wipers work. When I move it to the start position, nothing happens. Went to a Corvette show yesterday and showed the picture of the dash to a man. He thinks the wires to one of the gauges have been switched. Can anybody decode possibly which gauge(s) from the symptoms?dash lights.jpg

[Stephen L.]

Re: 62 electrical problem.

Did you mess with or install a new wiring harness in the dash? Did everything work correctly before you installed the new starter? Did you verify the wire connections on the starter solenoid per the wiring diagram.

What other wiring was disturbed when rebuilding the engine?

[Richard M.]

Re: 62 electrical problem.

Yes more information is needed.

But my first thought is a grounding issue. If there is no ground return path, it will find its return path through lamp filaments. It's possible other lamps are dimly lit but you can't see them easily.

The ground path for the entire electrical system of the body wiring is via just one wire. This is a Black/White tracer #12G wire from the main harness, through the firewall grommet near the fuse panel, to the engine bay, under the steering column, then to the Left rear valve cover inner attachment bolt. Is this wire attached? If the engine was rebuilt and reinstalled, maybe someone forgot that one.

The instrument cluster ground is via another Black wire attached to the gauge pods mount stud.

The wiper works because it has its own ground wire, likely re-attached to the Right rear valve cover bolt.

[Robert I.]

Re: 62 electrical problem.

<Did you mess with or install a new wiring harness in the dash? Did everything work correctly before you installed the new starter? Did you verify the wire connections on the starter solenoid per the wiring diagram.

What other wiring was disturbed when rebuilding the engine?

A shop pulled out all the gauges and repainted the cluster.
Starter worked,but that was 30 years ago; I'm pretty sure connections to starter are correct.

Thanks

[Robert I.]

Re: 62 electrical problem.

<Yes more information is needed.

But my first thought is a grounding issue. If there is no ground return path, it will find its return path through lamp filaments. It's possible other lamps are dimly lit but you can't see them easily.

The ground path for the entire electrical system of the body wiring is via just one wire. This is a Black/White tracer #12G wire from the main harness, through the firewall grommet near the fuse panel, to the engine bay, under the steering column, then to the Left rear valve cover inner attachment bolt. Is this wire attached? If the engine was rebuilt and reinstalled, maybe someone forgot that one.

The instrument cluster ground is via another Black wire attached to the gauge pods mount stud.

The wiper works because it has its own ground wire, likely re-attached to the Right rear valve cover bolt.

I forgot to mention that I talked to a guy who has restored a Shadow F1 car and his first thought was the ground.

The ground straps on either motor mount are there. The strap on the throttle linkage was missing, I added that.

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll take a look.

3 weeks ago I had a "procedure." I don't like to use the word surgery. But I think I can now get under there on my back without ripping anything.