65 is DOA

[Brett K.]

Hi Guys

I was driving my 65 small block (non TI igniton) as I have for years, stopped at the local ice cream shop and when I went to leave I turned the key and ....nothing. Got it home...Good battery, had the starter checked..it's ok, even replaced the ignition switch! Checked for broken wires (it has telescopic column) , took the connection off the back of the fuse panel (in the engine compartment) to look for corrosion....Still Nothing ..not a sound. Any clues?

[Michael M.]

Re: 65 is DOA

Have you checked your engine ground, battery ground, etc.?

[Don H.]

Re: 65 is DOA

Open the head lights and turn on, then try to start. Do the lights stay on or dim badly? Easy way to check if it is battery or starter / wiring. If it has AC, check the connections at the firewall (C-60'itis). Good luck, Don H.

[Lyndon S.]

Re: 65 is DOA

check your fuseable link some times they break close to the starter due to age

[Dick W.]

Re: 65 is DOA

check your fuseable link some times they break close to the starter due to age

No fusible link on 1965

[Mike F.]

Re: 65 is DOA

When you say nothing happened, do you mean "nothing" as in no headlights, no interior lights, no radio, no anything, as if there were no battery in the car?
How did you check the battery? The most likely item to fail would be the battery. Have you tried sticking a battery from another vehicle in the vette to see what happens?

[Brett K.]

Re: 65 is DOA

When you say nothing happened, do you mean "nothing" as in no headlights, no interior lights, no radio, no anything, as if there were no battery in the car?
How did you check the battery? The most likely item to fail would be the battery. Have you tried sticking a battery from another vehicle in the vette to see what happens?

Thanks for responding guys

When I say nothing I mean not a sound, as if no battery in the car. Checked the ground connection, and ran my volt meter across the battery...also put the charger on it for good measure..

[William C.]

Re: 65 is DOA

Do other electrical items function? Radio Lights etc?

[Mike F.]

Re: 65 is DOA

Thanks for responding guys

When I say nothing I mean not a sound, as if no battery in the car. Checked the ground connection, and ran my volt meter across the battery...also put the charger on it for good measure..

Unless you had a bad buildup of corrosion on the battery terminal connections, sounds like the battery is DOA, shorted, etc.. Does the battery give off a scent of rotten eggs or sulfer? It's usually the simple things first.

[Brett K.]

Re: 65 is DOA

Unless you had a bad buildup of corrosion on the battery terminal connections, sounds like the battery is DOA, shorted, etc.. Does the battery give off a scent of rotten eggs or sulfer? It's usually the simple things first.

Thanks again guys, no electrical items work....I did a battery test and it said it was fine, cleaned the terminals..etc.. I'll swap the battery anyway and see what happens...

[Paul J.]

Re: 65 is DOA

I had this problem before. I would drive somewhere and go to start the car and it was dead...d-e-a-d. The plugs from the wiring harness to the fuse box were not making a good connection. This is a common problem on C2's. I would detect it by opening the door and looking at the courtesy lights. No lights, then the plug was loose.

Paul

[Lyndon S.]

Re: 65 is DOA

my bad, C3 guy so I thought they had them in C2

[Jim L.]

Re: 65 is DOA

I had this problem before. I would drive somewhere and go to start the car and it was dead...d-e-a-d. The plugs from the wiring harness to the fuse box were not making a good connection. This is a common problem on C2's. I would detect it by opening the door and looking at the courtesy lights. No lights, then the plug was loose.

Paul

Brett, I agree with Paul. It's a well known problem on C2s for the firewall connections to not make contact. I note that in your original post you said you checked this already. Still, I'd take another look before going to the trouble to change a battery that you say tests good.

Jim

[John H.]

Re: 65 is DOA

Brett -

Pay particular attention to the big red wire terminals inside the inboard (closest to the centerline) 8-way multiple connector on the fuse block; that's the main power feed from the starter solenoid for the whole car, and it's a common corrosion issue, which leaves the car dead as a stone.

[Brett K.]

Re: 65 is DOA

Thanks again guys, no electrical items work....I did a battery test and it said it was fine, cleaned the terminals..etc.. I'll swap the battery anyway and see what happens...

Thanks Guys! I'll re-check the firewall connection before I do anything else