Keeps getting worse

[kristensmom]

I keep looking for fusible links....still havent found a single one. Have however found about 10 areas that were connected with wire connectors. It looks like the main hot wire has 5 connected areas with the crimped wire connectors. Went from a running car with a starting problem once warm, to a car with zero power anywhere and slowly becoming a car that needs to be completely rewired. Anyone want to buy a great looking 79 z/28 with no rust, and nice interior but has no power anywhere????? this is driving me INSANE

 

[warsie]

Don't give up...you will eventually get it all worked out!
I know it's frustrating,we have all been there more than once!

 

[kristensmom]

been working on same issue for 3 months. Gets worse every day.

 

[rscamaro73]

You might want to invest in a wiring diagram if you don't already have one....

They help a bunch. Then you can trace circuits back from start to finish, and it'll tell you wire color and size, as well as fusible links, switches and relays.

 

[KEVS80-Z28]

My engine harness was a disaster when i boght my car.I found a 6 cylinder harness in the junk yard most people do not modify these harnesses.The only diffrence i found was starter wires were longer on the 6 cylinder routed differently.cured all problems with harness cheap money . i would definitly remove it yourself it makes it easier to install.

 

[buckeye79]

on the 79 there is a red wire with a crimped terminal that has about four other wires in the same terminal, so that is normal if that is the splice you are talking about. The end of that wire where it connects to the starter is a fusible link, that link could look like it is good, but be melted on the inside, so it needs to be checked for continuity. That same wire is also what feeds battery power to everything else in the car, so with no power there, nothing else will have power. Should still have a third wire at the starter which should have a smaller terminal on it that attaches to the S terminal on the starter.

 

[Type73LT]

What he said above...the fusible link looks just like a regular wire. It is made to melt when shorts happen like you had with the wrench.

 

[krabben1]

I would invest in at least a front wiring harness for your car if money permits.It sounds like their has been alot of hands in the soup.As old as these cars are,its just a good investment for a new wire harness.
I bought an update series harness from AAW.Very easy to understand drawings and directions.The whole car was 500.00.If you just wanted the front light and engine harnesses,Im sure it would be alot cheaper.
You could be chasing gremlins forever with your current setup.
Here is a shot of the fusible links.(New AAW kit,aftermarket ht starter)

 

[ProStreet78z28]

What he said above...the fusible link looks just like a regular wire. It is made to melt when shorts happen like you had with the wrench.

+1,

Have you checked the fuses?

Battery terminals corroded? The only way you would have NO power what so ever (ingnition on and off) is if nothing coming from the main source.
Start at the battery and work forward to the starter and follow it it to the alternator to the fuse box.

 

[MadMike]

This is a PITA, but don't fear... this is actually simple. Possibly.

Here's the wiring diagram
http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/wire/78w-eng.jpg

The whole electrical section can be found here:
http://www.nastyz28.com/2gcog/wiring.html


The answer to the problem was already mentioned above - If I'm not mistaken, you laid a wrench across something and shorted the car out. I did this a long time ago when I was jacking around with the alternator and didn't disconnect the battery. The heavy red wire hit the valve cover and I heard a "SNAP" and that was it.

The fuseable link(s) that go down to my starter had melted to protect the rest of the wiring. Replaced those and I was back in biz. You can see the fusable link in the above picture... in my car it's an orange wire that turns brown. Between the 2 is the link.

If you were magically blowing fusable links - THEN you'd have to go hunting for what is wrong. These types of problems can be frustrating.

The other thing that'll kill your car dead - is a bad battery cable(s). These are easy enough to replace. I've had this happen before 2. twice. One time I had the positive battery cable deteriorate so that eventually it almost melted completely (this was obvious, eventually), and the other time I had a negative battery cable go bad. It looked fine, but it wasn't. Replaced that and the car was fixed.