Lost my trunk/dome lights and door buzzer!

thedude113 · 12-20-2006, 07:20 AM

Just picked up my first 911, an 85. 2 weeks later, the car slowly died at idle. Turns out the battery was 6 years old and would not hold a charge anymore. The alternator also went out. Replaced the battery then replaced the alternator. Everything is good, except I no longer have my two trunk lights, my interior lights, nor my key/door buzzer. The fuses look good. Could I have fried the buzzer relay and killed the circuit to the lights? I have a voltmeter but don't know where to start troubleshooting. Everything else is normal. Thanks in advance.

Zeke · 12-20-2006, 07:46 AM

Welcome! We need pics of your car!

AFA the electrics, it could be that you "broke" ground somewhere. That's usually where we go first, to the ground wires and make sure all corrsion is cleaned on the terminals. After that, it's a matter of tracing the circuits. I believe the schematics are on this site in the tech section accessed from the menu on the home page. HTH.

petrolblue83911 · 12-20-2006, 08:06 AM

Just curious,

Has anyone every drawn or written out where all of the major grounds are on a 911?

Gunter · Gunter's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by petrolblue83911
Just curious,

Has anyone every drawn or written out where all of the major grounds are on a 911?

Yes, it's in the Bentley manuals, get one, you'll love it!

dude113: Do a search and get the recommended spare relay for the DME, check for the updated HT sensor, etc.
Do a search on this board for info re: Carrera 3.2 liter.

pmajka · 12-20-2006, 10:11 AM

there is a door buzzer? where is it?

thedude113 · 12-20-2006, 10:44 AM

Here she is. Took me the better part of a year to find it, though half of that time was spent flying off an aircraft carrier in the gulf. PO did give me a spare DME relay. I'll try that first.

sfoster13 · 12-20-2006, 12:24 PM

+1 on getting the Bentley, you'll need the wiring diagram

I have an SC and everything you describe is on one circuit. As is the clock and glove box light. I believe the usual suspect is the wire to the trunk light. I'm in the process of hunting down the same problem as well. Does your clock work?

randywebb · 12-20-2006, 02:22 PM

agree but don't just look at the fuses - pull each one out and check for corrosion on it and on the prongs that hold it; replace and wiggle -- see if that helps

thedude113 · 12-20-2006, 10:10 PM

The clock worked intermittently before, but is now dead when the engine is off. Let me know if you come up with anything on your troubleshooting.

sfoster13 · 12-21-2006, 04:31 AM

you're going to need to work your way through the circuit with the multimeter. The clock is the first load on the circuit.

Gunter · Gunter's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by thedude113

Here she is. Took me the better part of a year to find it, though half of that time was spent flying off an aircraft carrier in the gulf. PO did give me a spare DME relay. I'll try that first.

DME relay has nothing to do with your current problem. The spare relay is in case the one in situ fails giving problems with the DME.

Get the Bentley and check/trace the appropriate circuit.

Important: When you use a full bra, the front oil cooler will not get air and therefore does not cool the oil.

thedude113 · 12-22-2006, 09:09 AM

Fixed it. It turned out to be the wire going into the bottom of the #4 fuse (from the rear) had come out of it's plastic connector. Re-attached and everything works. As far as the bra, that's a good point about the air for the oil cooler. It's not going back on again! Thanks for the help.

Thrasher · Thrasher's Garage

Gunter/Dude,

I have the standard Colgan bra and it actually has a provision for the oil cooler's bumper notch on the 3.2's

I've used my bra during DE days and my oil cooler worked just fine in 80 degree ambient.