Operations check - few problems

[Daniel J.]

Getting ready for judging (in less than a week) and found a few problems during my ops check;

Need suggestions on repairs;
1. Cigarette lighter does not work, also the lamp does not work (I looked for a fuse, but was not a dedicated one for lighter, checked connections in back)

2. Windshield wipers do not work

3. Windshield washers do not work (will they not work if wipers do not work)

4.Odometer trip reset knob does not work

I hope there is an easy fix @ 25points each...

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, Dan

[Sydney G.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Hi Dan,

Sounds like your wiper motor needs an overhaul? You might get lucky fiddling with your lighter though, check through the archives as I've seen a few posts.

Syd

[Terry M.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

I am pretty sure most year Corvettes have a fuse for the wiper motor -- find it and check it out. No wiper motor no washers -- it works that way.

[Edward J.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Dan, check the fuses there is fused circuit to to wipers - The brown wire to wiper motor is 12volts,

The cigar lighter is 12 volts at red wire, and make sure there is a ground at housing because the light and cigar lighter use the same ground.

The trip re-set is a cable make sure its attached to speedometer end,may have lay on floor and look -up.

[William C.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Remember you have to push up on the trip odo cable to get it to engage. Might just need "more push"

[Dan H.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Remember you have to push up on the trip odo cable to get it to engage. Might just need "more push"

Have also found if you lower the attaching 'U' bracket and twist the cable CC and test it then carefully place it back up in the column brace it can 'engage' again. Trial and error, should get it engaging again.
Dan

[Jack H.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

There's a caveat on the washers. If I remember correctly, there's a set aside in the Judging Reference Manual providing a 50% (vs. 100%) deduction on washer operation IF the owner has 'accidentally' placed the car on the judging field with NO fluid in the washer reservior...

I've seen a few guys discover washers that didn't work when they unloaded the car for placement on the judging field and 'recovered' by DUMPING their washer fluid!

[Jack H.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Remember, when playing with trip odometer, the reset cable is spring loaded to automatically return to its fully engaged (down/out) position. Sometimes the reset cable is 'sticky' from years of disuse and it can fail to fully re-engage after a reset.

If this happens, it's possible for the speedo mechanism to 'hang up' in between engaged and disenaged positions resulting in gear clash and subsequent damage to the speedometer. So, when you're working on the issue, take care to insure the reset cable works to smoothly/crisply return to its engaged position.

If it doesn't, consider pulling the reset cable, cleaning it and applying fresh cable lube to get it working nicely. OR, manually 'help' it return to its engaged position by physically pulling DOWN on the reset knob after doing a reset...

[Alan D.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

OK - broken record here! Install an inline fuse to Cigarette lighter, not a factory option, so hide it a little. Failure to install could cost a harness or a car. Lots of past discussions on the subject.

[Jack H.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Why do a 'Bubba' modification to splice an in-line fuse into the wiring harness versus using what Casco designed for the application?

These Casco L-2C fuses simply screw onto the lighter socket's threaded power stud and supply their own built-in threaded power stud extension.

They were standard equipment on various Buick/Cadillac and Ford vehicles that used the same Casco socket and lighter element as Corvette...

[Gerard F.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Jack,

My 67 has a fuse for the cigar lighter. I know we are talking about a 63.
When did they make the change to the fuse on the lighter.

[Alan D.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

Nice Jack - was not aware of that item so I agree with you and would use that instead. Think GM started to fuse in 67, but that's a guess.

[Jack H.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

I believe you're right about '66 or '67 being the change point for adopting a fused supply line for Corvette. But, other GM cars may have used fuses on this circuit before Corvette did...

I think the concern Buick/Caddy designers had that caused the adoption of the L-2C fuse was 'child play'. One of them put the fuse ONLY on the rear seat cig power sockets.

That seems to point to a concern for children sitting in the rear seats & playing might experiment with what would happen if they dropped a foreign object (toy, coin, Etc.) into the cig lighter well. Obviously a conductive metallic foreign object would create a dead short circuit!

[Joseph K.]

Re: Operations check - few problems

2. Windshield wipers do not work

I heard once from someone that there wipers did not work because the studs that operated the wipers were rusted in place. Make sure that the wipers will swing and that the parts are free to move. This would pop a fuse hopefuly.


3. Windshield washers do not work (will they not work if wipers do not work)

On my 69 the washers Will not work if the motor does not operate

Joe