Electrical gremblins

racer rojo · 03-29-2006, 08:16 PM

I need help ,My car was running fine ,but every once in a while when i turn the head lights on, it would die,and wouldn't start again until the lights where off. Messing whit the fuses would fix the problem, until a couple of day ago, it happened and now there's nothing happening when I turn the ignition, (no oil or generator lights on cluster) the parking lights and hazard do work and the battery is new, I just tried a new ignition switch and head light relay, and checked all the fuses whit out success,any Ideas or should I bite the bullet and tow it to a shop.

freezing14 · 03-30-2006, 06:11 AM

the best way is to remove all the fuse that are not needed to run the car ( look in the manual) there is only one or two will be left on , try to start, if it does, you have a short in the harness, put the fuse one by one unitl it stalls,, you will then have the culprit circuit,, the fun part is to unbundle the harness to find the trouble spot or just rereun new wire,, if it does not start , disconnect the car harness from the relay board and make 1 jumper for the computer and coil power and just the starter with a screwdriver and see if it runs,, if it does there, then the main wiring harness is toast,, ( it fun to swap)

racer rojo · 03-30-2006, 01:42 PM

Thanks for the info. I'll try to find a manual for the car. as for the computer the car is been converted to single weber ( which is kind of lame, but that's a hole other project) but I'll try the fuses first.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

The Haynes manual is a pretty decent one. They have B&W copies of the electrical diagrams.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/9144/POR_9144_TOLbks_pg2.htm#item10

Pelican has color copies of some of the diagrams.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/914_electrical_diagrams.htm

Fuses are the most likely suspect. They can look OK at first when they're popped, so it's worth removing them from the holder and checking them (the metal will usually fall apart noticeably when you remove a popped fuse). Also clean up the ends with a wire brush, and also the metal "fingers" that hold the fuses.

--DD

Joe Sharp · Joe Sharp's Garage

Good luck with your electrical probablems. One of the things I do when faced with this is to start with the basics. Check the grounding spots like at the batterie and the tranny, also the circut board, if you have to get to the board under the dash this board (Pelican) has great electrical diagrams. One little ground wire can make the system crazy. If you find a brown wire lose or unpluged fix it. Check everthing very carefully. You'll will have back on the road in no time, (some people never get them back on the road again). Just stick with it and you'll get her done.
Joe

rcrgrl · 03-30-2006, 08:44 PM

definitely sounds like a ground. check the grounds up by the headlights (duh) check every ground you can find anywhere in the whole car!!
check the alternator too, both the belt and the connections. i had this random issue where the alternator was shorting itself out where the cover bolts on and it would happen when i turned on the radio, something about the extra draw on the system - it finally just burned out hte alternator completely. i hate electrical. good luck

racer rojo · 04-04-2006, 02:55 PM

IT'S ALIVE!! ...IT'S ALIVE!!
Tanks to every body for the input. Tunrned out to be a corroded battery cable. And by the way a was able to unplug the ignition switc ,with out taking anithing apart, You can get to it from under the steering wheel ,pull the plug and test a new swicht.
Great site for the help!