Finding electrical problems?

[crashmy911]

I am having a problem with electrcial wires. Some where between my ignition,starter and fuel pump there must be a ground or bad wire. How should I go about finding what is wrong. I have no experiance with this type of problem! What type of tools do I need! Possibly whenI pulled on the wires to the fuel pump I caused this. The new fuel pump needed slide on connectors and when I cut off the old thru bolt style of connector I made the lines alittle bit short. I pulled on them gently but maybe I damaged one of the old wires. My car is a 1978sc! Any one know how I should proceed?

[yelcab1]

Not enough details.

1. What are the symptoms?
2. How do you know there is a bad wire, ground?

[crashmy911]

I hear some crackling of wires under the fuse box. Also starter dosn't turn and I don't even know if fuel pump is running anymore. I'm sure it is electrical becasue I saw some smoke come up from under the trunk uner the fuse box.

[yelcab1]

That is a major fire hazard. I would not drive it at all until I fix it. Sorry but I do not see an easy answer. If it was my car, I would disconnect the fuse box (taking pix and keeping notes and labeling all the wires in and out of the box). Maybe even remove the gas tank to get to the wires underneath. THen visually inspect all the wires to see which ones have the insulation worn off or shorted out.

If there was sparking and smoke, then you can be sure that you will find the insulation browning out, the colors have burned off, or the rubber melted off.

No easy answer, electrical shorts and problems are some of the hardest to find in an automobile. And it is one of the few causes that will burn your car down, so ... find it and fix it.