1971 Camaro

gcjswaney · Aug 1, 2023

Hello,
My name is George. I have a 1971 Camaro coupe, with a 383 stoker. It's the one and only car that I have restored. I love driving it but had some issues the other night and was towed home. I am not a mechanic but enjoy trying to do things on my own. I was wondering if I might get some ideas on the problems that I am having.

scblucam · Aug 1, 2023

Welcome, bring it on. Pics?

gcjswaney · Aug 1, 2023

I was out for a ride the other day and I lost power and stalled. I do not have power to my radio nor my turn signals. I used a spark tester on my distributor and it does not light when turned over. I have a accel super coil 140003 and bought a new cap. However I want to make sure that's the problem before I open the box. The tach wire from the distributor was hooked to the radio under the dash as well as turn signal.

Vega$69 · Aug 1, 2023

Do your headlights come on?

1st things 1st. Start with the battery. Make sure it's fully charged and the battery terminal are clean and tight.

Next check all your fuses.

I can't imagine the tach and turn signal wires hooked to the radio.

gcjswaney · Aug 1, 2023

Battery is fully charged. I have a tender on it when not driving. All wires look good as well as all the fuses. I have head lights, parking lights, inside dome light, console ashtray light and hazard lights.

Vega$69 · Aug 1, 2023

With the ignition turned on check for 12v on the + side of the coil

gcjswaney · Aug 1, 2023

I tried that and I do not show any power. The wires on my distributor on the + side are pink and yellow. This is confusing to me because the engine is cranking.

BillDini · Aug 1, 2023

You have an aftermarket engine harness most likely from M&H, I have the same colors for my 71 but the cloth covered white resistor wire is replaced with a full 12 volts pink wire. The yellow comes from the starter and is not needed with a 12 volt harness but M&H leaves it in place, maybe for originality.Go figure, pink is not original but it is for 12 volts. I did lose my 12 volt ignition power once when the half roundish dash cable that sits on top of the steering column started to disconnect.

BillDini · Aug 1, 2023

Check the wires on the horn relay front corner over the carbon canister. Also you may have burnt up a fusible link so check for burnt wires in the same area. Use your meter starting at the battery and see where battery voltage stops.

gcjswaney · Aug 1, 2023

Thanks, I will check that tonight.

Vega$69 · Aug 1, 2023

Cranking has nothing to do with ignition. For a test you can run a red wire from the BATT + to the Coil +. This is called hot wiring. Crank it and see of it starts. If it does start and runs you will need to disconnect the wire to shut it off.

If this works then your issue is the pink wire where is connected to or where it came loose.

gcjswaney · Aug 1, 2023

Thanks a lot I will give that a go this evening. I did see that I have a spade bit in my fuse box that is hot when I turn the ignition on. If the above works can I use that for my hot wire to the distributor?

gcjswaney · Aug 24, 2023

I finally found out my problem. My headers melted a wire that caused the issue. It was hidden and hard to find. Thanks again for your help. I do have another question. Can I run a wire from the male spade bit in fuse box to the radio? It does have power when the key is turn on.

ridesdirt · Aug 28, 2023

Yes you can power the radio from that, "hot in on position" spade. But there may be another spade that is "hot on and acc position" - may be a better choice.

Also, look to see if there is a circuit on the fuse box that includes the radio power, should be, maybe the fuse is blown. Check the owners manual for fuse location. You may find the wire is already there hanging under the dash. I am not real familiar with the early second gen Camaro wiring.

1971 Camaro

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