1976 Chevy El Camino The car stalls when the heater is turn

GOATEE_B

MEMBER
1976 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO

Heater problem
1976 Chevy El Camino V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic

1976 El Camino SS engine stalls when the heater/AC is turned on.

Basically, the car has a 350 in it and I don't know the background of the engine swap. What I do know is that the car runs fine and the alternator works. I also know the belt to the AC compressor(?) Is not hooked up.

The issue is that when I slide the controls to turn on the heater or AC the car just stalls. Having electrical experience I suspect that something is not grounded. I checked the fuses and nothing is blown, but I know little about the wiring in this car and that's why I'm asking for some help. I do have some wiring diagrams but they don't tell me what I need to know.

I am interested in taking apart the dash but what should I look for? There can only be so many connections and if I have to I'll cut the harness and run the wires myself, but I need to know to where.

Tell me what you think and thank you.

-Bon

1 Reply

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

If the engine has been swapped then the one ground is probably off as well. There should be a braided ground wire from the back of hte passenger head to the firewall. There should also be a ground wire from the negative terminal of the battery to the body as well. There are a couple under the dash but they are smaller wires. If the one to the engine is NOT connected, when you turn the heater on the car seeks ground through the transmission cable and when you put it on park it will actually be in drive because the cable gets so hot it melts and breaks. Hopefully that will solve your problem.