Electrical Problem '82 CGT

[urq]

... I'm sorry to say that Huw is probably pretty spot on ... but there are a
couple areas that come to mind that might make big differences in short time
...

First and foremost ... check the fuses.  The '82 still has those funky
plastic fuses held in place by spring pressure on the ends.  Remove them all
to make sure they don't fall apart (BTDT), and then re-install.  I try to
evaluate how tightly the fuse is held in place and tweak the stationary side
if the spring feels weak.  The final operation is to spin the fuse 360
degrees in place to clean up the contact surfaces.  

The next possible big hitter for me is the metal "spider" lugs that are used
to ground various spade lugs in the car.  I'm most familiar with my urq, but
I'll bet the '82 CGT is similar.  These devices are found on the interior,
and perhaps the trunk.  It has been a while, but the ones I remember best
are above and beside the driver's footwell.  What I have seen is that the
dissimilar metals of the spider and car body cause rust & other corrosion.
What I do is to remove the bolt that holds the spider in place and scrape
some of the paint around the contact area.  I reassemble with a star washer,
and usually some insulating grease to keep the moisture out in the future.
No need to worry about "insulating" grease as the star washer ensures good
metal to metal path for conduction.  

It should be pretty easy to figure out why the starter isn't getting pulled
in.  Be careful as the big wires going to the starter pose a risk for fire
or injury when the battery is connected.  Follow the big +12V cable from the
battery to the alternator and starter and make sure everything is snugly
connected and clean.  For the ground, check the connection from the battery
to the frame, and then from the frame to the engine block (likely near the
driver's side engine mount).  At this point I'd do a quick check and jump
the +12 Volts at the starter motor to the solenoid connection ... be sure
the tranny is out of gear and be careful not to short out the wrong thing!
If the starter doesn't pull in, verify +12V at the starter terminals ... if
you have power it must be the starter is bad.  Once this is tested you can
try the key again and follow wiring to find where the break is.  I don't
know if the CGT with automatic had a starter lockout in '82 ... make sure
that isn't stopping you.  

If the car has spent time outside, then you'll want to go around to all the
lights to make sure they are lighting as they should.  The rear taillight
ground is a known weak point on this generation of Coupe ... I have the
dual, dual filament lamp carriers on my car, and these have lugs that allow
adding a ground wire at each side ... I'd recommend seeing if you can add
grounds no matter which style plate you have.

If you still have multiple problems, I recommend that you create a list of
problems and find each circuit on the wiring diagram to see if they share
any common wiring.  

Good luck!
Steve Buchholz

-----Original Message-----

I put a battery in my '82 Coupe today, the battery has been out since 2006. 
 With a fully charged battery, some interior lights worked (overhead 
light), oil  pressure light came on, battery light seemed to fade in and
out, as 
opposed to  flicker. The headlights didn't work and the starter doesn't even

click. No  wipers, no directionals.
 
Sounds like corrosion, or other failure, at some common point. Are there  
any points which are notorious?
 
Tom Faust
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