83 SC Wire Color and Guage Help

[perryb]

Hello All,

This is my first post, please go easy on me... I'll try to be very clear. I decided to replace the 10 fuse block in my trunk because the pump relay line did a number on the fuse #16 and wire. Before starting, I took notes on the color and relative guage of the wires and their fuse termination points... all's good so far. After getting it all together, the car wont start. Out comes the multimeter and Bently manual wiring diagrams. To my surprise, the original wiring on the fuse block did not exactly reflect what the Bently wiring diagram showed, some were connected to different amperage fuses and there are some wires on the top hot bus that are not shown in the Bently diagrams. Anyway, I got my baby running again but I am a little worried about the whole wiring layout discrepancy.

So, here goes my plea for help.... Does there exist a document or table that shows the proper color code and guage (guage is important) of the wires connected to the fuse blocks in the trunk? I think that most of them are properly connected,now, but the wires connected to fuses 11 through 15 are my worry spots. The reason I say that guage is important is because there are two RD/BLK wires that connect to the top power bus, one is around 18 guage and the other is about 14 guage, but the Bently manual shows only one RD/BLK wire to be connected across the top power bus; one is from the ignition switch, but the other is unknown... an, I don't know which is which.

Once again, does there exist a document or table that shows the proper color code and guage of the wires connected to the fuse blocks in the trunk?

Thanks in advance.
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Wow! Thanks for the welcome and thanks to both boyt911sc and LM3929... both responses help tremendously.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by perryb

Once again, does there exist a document or table that shows the proper color code and guage of the wires connected to the fuse blocks in the trunk?

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the board!!!The answer to your question is YES. On Bentley's SC Manual on page 971-3 shows the different fuses requirement. From the given fuse, you can determine the proper wire gauge needed. Now for the wire color coding use a factory shop manual wiring diagrams. The wires are in color. PM me for the fuse number you need and I'll give them back to you. Good luck.

Tony

[LM3929]

also look at the wiring diagram in the haynes manual it shows the wire colour and size I will attempt tp send a scan of what I copied off of my 83 SC fuse panel.

LM

[perryb]

Originally Posted by LM3929

also look at the wiring diagram in the haynes manual it shows the wire colour and size I will attempt tp send a scan of what I copied off of my 83 SC fuse panel.

LM

Thanks for the scan... first, this is very different from my 83SC. Mine is a Cabrio, thisnk that makes any difference? Also, what is that lower wire color code you have on fuse 14, it is a little hard to read.

I will post my wiring layout after I take a closer look at the Bently manual and do some limit tracing... I find it hard to beleive that mine can be so different and it is a US (California) sold car.

[fred cook]

When you mounted the new fuse block did you make certain that the side with the jumpers on the back was on the "top"? If you look at the back of the old fuse block you will see the brass jumper plates on the back of the fuse block. Hope this helps.

[Mysterytrain]

I'm not clear on the fuel pump circuit failure. So, first question do the rest of the circuits seem ok now that they have been rewired? Second, Have you replaced the red fuel pump relay with a new one? Third, have you checked the fuel pump relay pin sockets? The pin sockets would give you a good indication that you have rewired that circuit correctly.

[LM3929]

My car is also a CA car, Fuse 14 is Black/violet (purple)
If you need any other info Email me.

LM

[perryb]

Yes, that was oriented properly.

[perryb]

Here is the deal... I figured out why the car wouldn't start after the fude block replacement, I have 2 (two) each RD/BLK wires destine for connection on the top hot bus of the block. One of these RD/BLK wire is about 16 guage and the other is about 18 guage... one is to power the tach and the other comes from the igniton to power the fuel-pump relay circuit - I had these two reversed.

Thanks to LM3969, his diagram made me really dig deeper and square away the entire fuse panel, man it was really hosed and scary. Now that I have all (most) of the wires and ALL the fuses in their correct places, I'm feeling a little more at ease. I still have a few discrepancies. First, I have an 18 guage BLK/RD wire waiting to be connected to the top hot bus, I say waiting to be connected because it was definetly connected to fuse 11 before. THis is the only BLK/RD wire near the top bus and it is not defined anywhere in the schematics. I presently have it disconnected and to my knowledge, everything works on the car. I also have a couple of "missing" wires on the lower bus of the fuse block. For example, there are supposed only 2 (two) WH/BLU wires connected on the entire bottom bus, one to fuse 7 and one to fuse 8; I have only one WH/BLU wire and it is connected to the bottom of fuse 7. I suppose the reason for all these issues is that the car was repainted from gold to black by the PO... fine repaint job though. I'll keep on this until it's perfect, thanks to everyone for the help.