'62 small electrical issue

[Charles M.]

I have a minor electrical issue.

Before I start tearing wires apart I thought some of you might have a suggestion as to where to start the troubleshooting.

Here are the symptoms:

When I do any of the following:

• turn on the lights
• hit the brake lights
• use the turn signals either left or right

The fuel gauge pegs to the right (full)

Any help will be appreciated,

Chuck

[Stephen G.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Sounds like a bad ground. What state is the car in? Anything opened up / taken apart?

If you can get to it run a jumper from the ground at the top of the tank on the sender to the frame or back to the battery negative. If that fixes it you have a bad ground in the harness going up front.

[Gary B.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Sounds like a bad ground. What state is the car in? Anything opened up / taken apart?

If you can get to it run a jumper from the ground at the top of the tank on the sender to the frame or back to the battery negative. If that fixes it you have a bad ground in the harness going up front.

I agree! That is what it was on my `62.

[Donald L.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

From an old Restorer article

http://rarecorvettes.com/RARE/DancingGasGuage.html

[Charles M.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Wow!

Thank You! Stephen, Gary and Donald.

That all makes sense and gives me confidence that it will surely save me time and effort in tracking down the culprit.

I bought this car a few months ago and it apparently came with this issue. When the gas tank is full you don't see the problem so I didn't recognize early on and have put it off in favor of doing other things - like driving it. Other than this twitchy gas gauge issue, a clock that doesn't work and a non standard radio this car has been nicely restored close to original. Seems near perfect from my view as a novice.

All the best,

Chuck

[Gary B.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Just keep enjoy driving it and fix the small things as you go.

[Patrick S.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

A simple temporary fix is to run a ground wire from the tail light ground to the antnna ground than goes to the frame.

[John F.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Charles, post some pictures. Here is the wire for the fix on the tank.

[Charles M.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Thanks to Gary, Patrick and John for your feedback!

Attached are a few pictures of my '62. It had a body off restoration by Al Young (he also had chev/honda dealership) in Indianapolis in 1995 and was painted in 2002. Somehow the previous two owners managed to NOT put a single scratch or mark on the paint job in 9 years - now its up to me to continue that care - makes me nervous every time I drive it!

[John F.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Charles, Very nice 62. You gotta love RED!

[David H.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Charles, thanks for helping me decide what color to paint my brother's '62!
Red it is! (it always was)

Nice looking paint!

[Charles M.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Thanks David

I do love that distinctive red/orange color. I also had a 57 chev painted that same color.

Cheers,

Chuck

[Philip P.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Many electrical (not all) problems are associated with the grounds in a Corvette, make sure they are all clean and secure.
Phil
1960

[Charlie P.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

I just came on to post the exact same problem with the '62 I just bought two weeks ago.
Now I don't have to wait quite as long for the answer.
Thanks,
Charlie

[Christopher R.]

Re: '62 small electrical issue

Run a wire from the sender to the frame. See the photo posted by John Ftacek. Run the wire alongside the fuel line as shown in the photo. What's not shown in the photo is that there's a fuel line clamp on the frame right behind the right rear wheel, just beyond where the wire leaves the compartment in the photo. Attach that wire under that existing fuel line clamp. Put star washers and maybe grease under the clamp. Can't be seen. Don't have to make any holes in the car.