I was wondering if anyone could help me with a small prob. I am restoring a 1980 z28. I just installed a new engine wiring harness after the first one fried. I have it installed an can seem to get any power to anything in the car. When I connect the negetive lead to battery it just sparks an arcs really bad. I know the harrness is connected correct its pretty easy. I'm just stumped! Ive never had this prob. before with any car? This may be a stupid question but like I said I'm stumped. I just don't want to burn this new harness. Thanks. Jody

 

Jody
You have dead short. It could be caused by a lot of things. Its could be a defective wiring harness or you have crushed the wiring harness when installing something. Do you have you have everthing installed. Any wires hanging could touch ground. It could also be any componet you installed. A new gage cluster, tail lights(if they are turn on)

I would start by pulling all the fuses and see if it goes away. If it does not go away that will really cut down on what it could be. If it does go away start putting fuses back one at a time and see when the issue returns. Post back what you find.

 

Definitely something somewhere is grounding a "hot" wire. Sounds like whatever caused the original harness to fry is still there. And it's not necessarily the engine harness that's grounding, it could be something anywhere on the car. Is your fuse block in good shape, no breaks, cracks, shorted wires?

 

Thanks Gorn, Everything is back in car. The wire harness was the last thing I have to do. The first harness was in car when I finished it some what. It burnt shortly after, but it ran perfect in the short time it did. I know there are no bad spot in harness an nothing is touching, Ill try what you said maybe its in a light switch or something? Thanks again I'll let you know. Jody.

 

I'm pretty sure the fuse block is good but who knows? All I know is when I hook the battery up it just sparks which is not good at all, but prob. right about my prob. its still there from the first time. I'll check fuse box an other stuff. Thanks.