Electrically Dead 1981

OK the car is a 81 auto but its not that it will not just start, it has no power period to anytthing !!!
everything is dead, this afternoon I took the cable that grounds the motor to the frame took it off clesned it with my dremal as well as the frame nut bolt everything as well as the one from the battery to the frame in the rear, and nothing... the thing has no juice at all, I have checked the battery its good it cranks my other car and the batter out of my taurus does the same thing as this one nothing !!!! I am totally baffled there has to be a relay or somthing that is bad, the neutral safety switch would keep it from starting but not from having power to the entire car huh???

This may sound like a longshot, but you could possibly have a broken battery cable. Through my years as a G.M. tech. I've seen a couple broken ones.

If your cable has enough slack in spots, normal vibration over time...like say since 1981, could cause the cable to develop weak spots. Add the progressive hidden corrosion that Ken Styer mentioned, and the weakness progresses into a broken cable. It starts out as one strand, then two, etc...

The easiest test for this is the wiggle test. tru to move the cable around, most likely positive, as this is the longer of the cables, get in there, and pinch the cable, feel for any gaps, wiggle the hell out of it, while someone else tries to start it.

I hope your problem is this simple. The old axiom I've stuck to is...

It's always something stupid...if it isn't, it's $1,000.00.

Good luck, and please let us know what happens.

Alan

Well It couldnt be that could it?? the positive lead goes directly to the starter right? and I can short the starter across it and it has enpough juice there to fry you I mean big time (doesnt matter) ??? still test the cable you think?
very confused in Louisiana vettehead1963

...Possibly.

You can have a good connection when everything is cold, and you run it for a while, and it gets all hot, and you lose your contacts. Like I said, it's a longshot, but a possibility.

Alan

vettehead1963 said: I am totally baffled there has to be a relay or somthing that is bad, the neutral safety switch would keep it from starting but not from having power to the entire car huh???

yep way off base... thats what I get for reading the last post and not entire thread..

well.. as others have mentioned the positive cable is a possible cuprit..

when its in this state i would try jumping the starter with a screwdriver.. this would let you know if the cable was the culprit.

also.. while its in this state use an ammeter to check for current flow on the positive cable.

no current flow means the circuit got interrupted. current flow means the circuit is shorted.

if shorted I would try checking all the wiring in the starter area for shorts, then I would try replacing the solenoid.

if interrupted I would check the ignition switch.

OK guys update.... the fusable link located between the starter and firewall has been removed from this car at some time before I owned it so that can be eliminated as a possible problem, tonight I am going to test the lead leaving the starter going back to the ignition hoping thats the problem, After that who knows? I will continue probing and testing until I find it... any suggestions are always welcome. vettehead1963

There should be two fusiable links from the starter where the battery cable hooks to the solonoid. Check both of them. To track the source of the problem, check these things.
Power to the battery termimal at the alternator.
Constant power to the fuse box.
Battery power to the ignition switch.

If these stay when the problem occours. Check the power through the ignition switch. It may go in but lose it under load through the switch.

If any of the others lose power you know the problem is before them, and can be traced backwards without too much problem. Likewise if you do not lose power at these points, but do elsewhere, that also is a good indicator.

Grab your test light or volt meter, do those checks, and let me know. From that info I can help you narrow it down.

excellent kyster I will do just that and will inform you on the results as soon as possible vettehead1963

Alright guys I found it and fixed it !!!!I tested all the wires coming of the starter all were hot... followed them up the firewall harness to the plug there, and of three hot wires coming off the starter only 2 were hot here, so I started digging and low and behold on ehot lead had come unplugged ffrom the huge plastic male plug, and that was it I plugged it back up electrical taped the plug real good and she cranked right up... unbeleivable that one 14 gauge wire can totally kill the entire car, but it did, thanks for everyones help, I can always count on you guys for good advice and plenty of it CRUISIN AGAIN VETTEHEAD1963