Electrical death
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,275
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
Electrical death
I was replacing the center console (testing the power windows in my 77)
When I grounded it out, and everything went dark.
Everything. I have zero electrical, except my radio, which is wired directly to the battery.
I must have blown a fuse, or something.
Where to start looking?
When I grounded it out, and everything went dark.
Everything. I have zero electrical, except my radio, which is wired directly to the battery.
I must have blown a fuse, or something.
Where to start looking?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
From: CORTLANDT MANOR NY
First look at the fuse box and see if you blew some fuses. If that fails you need to get a wiring diagram and look for the fusible links. A likely one is the hot lead to the starter that would shut down much of the electricity in the car.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 275
Likes: 6
From: NY
Originally Posted by 427V8
the fuseable link connects the battery to the Alt. It usually comes from the starter connection and goes to the horn relay.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,275
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
My car has some bubba in it, so its not quite stock.
I have two wires going to the starter. One is the battery cable, and one goes into the cable harness under the brake booster.
I have 12V at the starter. I have 12V at the alternator.
I've checked the fuses under the dash, and they all look fine.
Where should I look next?
I have two wires going to the starter. One is the battery cable, and one goes into the cable harness under the brake booster.
I have 12V at the starter. I have 12V at the alternator.
I've checked the fuses under the dash, and they all look fine.
Where should I look next?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Not sure,but there could be a circuit breaker involved here...and you should have fusible link to starter....My 78 does...I know,because rats ate the wires once........
Edit- Chiltons shows a fuse link between alternator/starter (red wire) for 76-78.
Edit- Chiltons shows a fuse link between alternator/starter (red wire) for 76-78.
Last edited by rihwoods; Jun 20, 2005 at 10:17 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,275
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
Fusible link is OK.
Continuity & voltage checks out.
I have 12V going into the firewall, but nothing at the fusebox under the dash.
Is there another fusible link or larger fuse I could have blown?
Continuity & voltage checks out.
I have 12V going into the firewall, but nothing at the fusebox under the dash.
Is there another fusible link or larger fuse I could have blown?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 339
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
You might have to pull the fuse panel away from the wall to inspect it.
I would have expected your power window circuit to be protected, blowing it's own fuse rather than possibly burning a primary feed wire up???
There should be a big fat red wire running from outside of the firewall in through the dash main harness. Inside that harness, the red will split and one path will go to the fuse panel to run your "battery" components.
Make sure the entire fuse panel is dead, checking both sides of the fuse.
You can always run a temporary hot wire to the fuse panel to test the theory...just be careful if you do.
Good luck...
I would have expected your power window circuit to be protected, blowing it's own fuse rather than possibly burning a primary feed wire up???
There should be a big fat red wire running from outside of the firewall in through the dash main harness. Inside that harness, the red will split and one path will go to the fuse panel to run your "battery" components.
Make sure the entire fuse panel is dead, checking both sides of the fuse.
You can always run a temporary hot wire to the fuse panel to test the theory...just be careful if you do.
Good luck...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,275
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
I fixed it
So what was it?
The fuse block screwed into the firewall was loose.
While fiddling with it today with a coworker, he told me to kill the battery power (we were getting ready to take it off), and I noticed the domelight was on!! He jiggled it and the light flickered.
We went ahead and unscrewed it, and thats when he noticed it was not tight. I WD-40'd the connectors and reinstalled.
Everything works! (except the left power window...it still won't work, I wonder if I fried the switch).
Thanks for all your help. I'm back on the road again!
(but not very far from home, yet)
So what was it?
The fuse block screwed into the firewall was loose.
While fiddling with it today with a coworker, he told me to kill the battery power (we were getting ready to take it off), and I noticed the domelight was on!! He jiggled it and the light flickered.
We went ahead and unscrewed it, and thats when he noticed it was not tight. I WD-40'd the connectors and reinstalled.
Everything works! (except the left power window...it still won't work, I wonder if I fried the switch).
Thanks for all your help. I'm back on the road again!
(but not very far from home, yet)
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
My right side power window once did not come up.I gently hit the area just above the arm rest,and it has worked since.The motor is just below that spot,and I figured it was a loose connection...don't know for sure....