<VV> 64 run circuit problem Resolution

[Jay Maechtlen]

This recalls the old adage -
"It ain't what what you don't know that will get you -
It's the things you know that ain't so!"



On 6/21/2018 7:02 AM, Jim Becker via VirtualVairs wrote:
> A basic rule of troubleshooting is that you are only going to isolate 
> a failure when the failure is occurring.  In your original post, you 
> simply said: "Engine to dash harness has been electrically verified 
> with ohm meter." without mentioning that you had done all this testing 
> and measuring when the car was cold and capable of starting normally.
>
> Hats off to Tom Berg.  In one of the first responses to your original 
> question,  he took a "wild stab" that described almost exactly what 
> was going on.
>
> Jim Becker
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Smitty via VirtualVairs
> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 10:54 AM
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject:  64 run circuit problem Resolution
>
> Smitty says;  Finally after all these months.  We had checked voltage 
> at the coil many times but never continuously while the engine was 
> running.  Darned it didn’t start dropping the closer to the 20-30 
> minute time frame it got. Finally down to 4.5 volts and the engine 
> died.  OK so we got a new clue, but still no answer why.  Now we noted 
> that the voltage on the big red wire going forward through the belly 
> pan was dropping also.  We had read out the wire from the coupling 
> under the dash and back to the coupling in the engine compartment and 
> all seemed well.  Except of course we had been reading it when nothing 
> was operating and things were cool.  Now we knew to measure and feel 
> for heat in the couplings when the engine had been running for a 
> while. Sure enough. heat build up in the forward connector.  The red 
> wire and another pin showed evidence of corrosion so they were well 
> scraped and cleaned and treated with contact cleaner.  The connector 
> was coated with dielectric grease and put back together.  No more 
> voltage drop at the coil. So the initial problem was solved but it 
> leaves me with a question.  Why was that making the ballast resistor 
> overheat. Maybe one of you electricians would enlighten me.
>
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights 
> are the property
> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> Archives: http://www.vv.corvair.org/archive.htm
> _______________________________________________


-- 
Jay Maechtlen
SoCal
'61 2-dr modified w/fiberglass skin,
transverse 3.8 Buick V6 TH440T4 trans