I had my car towed by a mechanic to have the.

Tiny
AMANDAWRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 1980 CHEVROLET CHEVETTE
I had my car towed by a mechanic to have the clutch replaced. He towed it back, started it, backed it off the dolly and then drove it to where he parked it. It started smoking and he shut it off. It hasn't turned on since. By "hasn't turned on" I mean you turn the ignition and nothing comes on. No head lights, no tail lights, no radio, no dash, no power. I managed to trace the power from the battery to a small switch looking deal right before the firewall. There is a red wire secured by a nut and then an orange wire comes out the other side and goes into a black box on the firewall. I've traced 12 volts to that red/orange wire. After that on the inside of the car I'm getting 0.03 and it's not consistent. It will be there and i'll go to test it again and won't get the same results. I checked the fuses and they all appear good. I just need to know what to look for and exactly how to do it because I'm 34 weeks pregnant and the six mechanics I've called to come look at my only mode of transportation obviously don't see the importance in me getting this done.
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 3:54 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
I would call the guy who installed the clutch and have him re check his work. I bet he trapped some wires in the bell housing and caused a huge short.

Roy
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 4:03 PM
Tiny
AMANDAWRIGHT
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I've tried to get a hold of him. He claims he's been out and no one was here (when there's always someone here). It's been three months. I really don't care anymore. I just want it fixed.
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 4:20 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Have another shop check it to confirm. Dont count on anyone coming out as they cannot do anything or even see it.

Roy
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 4:22 PM
Tiny
AMANDAWRIGHT
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  • 7 POSTS
I can't get it to a shop. I don't know anyone with a truck or dolly and if I could afford to have it towed, I wouldn't be driving a 1980 Chevrolet Chevette. So what am I supposed to be looking for because it's obvious I can't count on anyone to come out.
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Top of the bell housing for any wire harness trapped between the motor and trans

Roy
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 4:26 PM
Tiny
AMANDAWRIGHT
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Alright. I will go check again to see if there are any although I didn't see any before. The only suspicious wire I found before I attached an image of.
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 4:34 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Thats a ground wire that was not connected.

Roy
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 4:36 PM
Tiny
AMANDAWRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Okay well see I knew that was a ground wire and should be hooked up but everyone told me I was wrong. I'll work on getting it hooked up once I can get a wrench on it. When I connect it, if it doesn't fix everything (because I have a strange suspicion it won't), what would be the next thing to look at?
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 5:03 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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What I said before about the trapped wiring

Roy
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 5:04 PM
Tiny
AMANDAWRIGHT
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Ok. Wire reattached, no pinched wires
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 8:29 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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If you go down to the starter, check the fusible links for anything broke,

Roy
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
AMANDAWRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Sorry it took a few days to get back to this. I wanted to spend a couple days going over all the wires. We did find a pinched wire. That has been fixed along with a bunch of other wires that were disconnected. Both fusible wires have been replaced and we now have power! Car still won't start. Popping and hissing with a little smoke is coming from about the starter area. Ordered a new starter that should be here this afternoon. Is there anything else I should look for? Or you think this is where this ends.
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 8:22 PM

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