Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum. Anyway, I have an 84 with a 4+3. The other night I was out crusing around, in 4th gear overdrive, and I hit a pothole. When I hit the pothole, the car went out of overdrive, back into direct drive, and my "headlight on" warning chime started, even through the car was running (headlights on).

Upon further investigation, I realized the the 10 AMP fuse in the box (for the cluster I think) blew out. So I replaced the fuse, the headlight warning chime stopped, and the Overdrive worked again. Until I hit the next pothole....

 
This has happened a few times now. Anyone have ideas or suggestions where to start? I can only assume there is a short somewhere, but I have no idea where to start. Oh yeah, and I tried dodging the potholes and bumps and that has not worked either. Those of you who live in PA know what I mean.

 

So I pulled the dash cluster out of the car. I never had a problem with the cluster, and to the best of my knowledge it has never been rebuilt. The first"pin" on the cluster connector has a burn mark on it. Does anyone know how I can fix the cluster?

 

I thought that was the problem, so I drove around without the cluster in the car, hit a pothole, and the same thing happened. What else could it be? I HATE electrical issues, cause I know absolutely nothing about how to troubleshoot them.

thanks in advance for your help.

Joe

Also...Just FYI about my car...

Black 84 Vette with Graphite Leather
Z51 package, 4+3, Heavy Duty Radiator, Bilsteins, Bose, etc.
Delete Rear window defrost, delete power door locks, delete cruise, delete power seats.

I will post some pics of some of the minor mods I have done to it later...

Start looking for a shorted wire. I would look at the OD relay on the fire wall down to the tranny. The relay connection melts after years and can cause wires to touch. Follow them down to the transmission. This is the first place to look. I have an 87' 4+3 that is not working. My harness is melted from the relay and if it ever warms up I will get under the car to inspect more.

good luck, Lew   

 

this is the OD relay and fuel pump relay when they cook