Here we go again..73t electrical

tkrefeld · 06-26-2003, 02:56 PM

MAybe you remember my 73.5T confused post about the car dying, restarting ect ect....Well, I had the electrician come over last weekend and we ran a jumper from the battery to fuse box. Wholla! Lights, car started and ran great.....put a toggle and fuse on it and let it be until we could chase down the "real" problem. Now, here I am again...No headlights, turn the key and nothing, no wipers, ect. Still have the fuel pump we jumped...
Seems as if my problem is intermittent power to the fuse box....
What casues this and how can I fix it?? I have one optima in the passenger well...I need to get this thing going...I have having serious withdrawls from my 911 and may need medical attention soon

john70t · 06-27-2003, 02:38 AM

Wish there was more to help, but one other thing to do would be to check the grounds. There's an important one at the front of the transmission and a cluster in the engine compartment, though it sounds like it could be another problem. There could be corrosion/break inside the feed wire that's not aparent. EarlySMan had a great suggestion of cleaning the wire ends with a little vinegar and sealing them with..(?) search the archives.
Are you getting 12v at the fuses? Battery terminals tight? Try wiggling wires around with the mulitimeter hooked up to see if the intermittent shows up.

Sunroof · 06-27-2003, 10:53 AM

I have a 73.5 T as well, but have yet to encounter the type of problem you are experiencing. At this time I am running a thread on my starter problems, but luckily that was just resolved.

My electrical system is old and through the years alot of "jury rigging", rewiring of dash lights, AC compressor and whatever have been done by prior owners. When I got the car, the first thing I did was clean the ground contacts and went through the fuse box one fuse and connection at a time (a dremel drill with metal cleaning disk is a wonderful thing). I changed all the fuses, used heat shrink to protect wires where I could and just did a general cleanup. I found that to be very beneficial.

When my car did not react with the key in the start position, I did get under the dash and replaced the electrical portion of the switch. Its not expensive item and came off with two screws. The key is lying down on a pillow on the foot pedals with a good flashlight and wrestling those two screws that hold it on. Its a good time to look under the dash and inspect the wiring. While under the dash you can see where the wire bundles lead (lighting, horn, signals, to starter, battery ,etc) into respective the electrical relays. I replaced them all which I recommend. I had to go through a few dash instrument holes to get to them as they face down while your looking up.

The truck compartment fuse boxes (3) all screw off the body and you can check the wiring to the battery or what is in series. I am by no means a specialist in electrical systems, but through years of ownership with this model I have found that the general condition of the wiring harness and connections are overall in very good condition. Over time all the connectors do succumb to corrosion. Wherever you do to make a change, correction or replacement of a component it a wise move to clean any electrical fitting associated with that component. By just cleaning the contacts to all the lights (headlight and taillights) has yielded like new results. Some other suggestions is to take you positive cable that hooks to the battery (goes to the starter) and replace the fitting that clamps onto the post with a new unit. Clean or remove up to one-half inch of corroded wire before replacing. Replace the ground wire as well and by al means CHECK the condition of the ground strap from the transmission to the engine.

Good luck
Bob

tkrefeld · 07-04-2003, 09:35 AM

Where exactly is the ground strap and yellow wire I keep hearing about.? I am going to do some major looking and atemp to repair this week. I have intermittent power to a fuse box which is why I lost brake lights, signals, and power, but still have dash lights, hazards, high beams ect...I didn't think the earlier problem was alternator or more serious as the car as always been OK. What I don't understand is why I have inconsistant power to this box and how to repair it. I jumped the fuel pump and it turns on fine.
Car started right up. Now I have nothing when I turn the key. Fuel pump jumper still works, but have lost wipers, headlights ect.
Apparently my problem is getting power to one of the entire fuse boxes and I am confused about how to repair that
thanks!