Electrical not working after using a screwdriver to pry off door panel flat plug, there was an arc?

PHIL BAIR

MEMBER
1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
5.7L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
64,000 MILES

I was pulling the interior door panel to replace a trim piece. I used a screwdriver to pry off a flat plug off the door panel. Goes to windows, locks, etc. I caused an arc. Now the electrical is 100% dead. No starter, no windows, no dash. I have pulled each fuse in the fuse block and all are okay. I have considered a fusible link. I pulled the battery and saw seven different links, but none were visibly damaged.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,117 POSTS

Hi,

Does anything work? For example, do the brake lights, headlamps, or anything electrical work? I ask because there really isn't anything in the door that would cause a total failure.

If you take a voltmeter or multimeter and check the voltage of the battery, is it where it should be?

I attached two pics below. One is for the power locks and the other is for the power windows. Both have a 30-amp circuit breaker. However, the power window's circuit breaker only has power when the key was on. I suspect the key was off, so that should eliminate the windows from causing the issue.

On the other hand, the power locks' circuit breaker has power at all times, so that is my first suspect as far as having a short occur.

Let me know if the key was off. Also, let me know if anything electrical is working. If nothing does and the battery is good, check the terminals at the battery and make sure we have a good connection.

Let me know what you find.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below.

Images (Click to make bigger)