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78 electrical issue- PLEASE HELP

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Old May 12, 2007 | 09:01 PM
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Default 78 electrical issue- PLEASE HELP

i was driving down the street and my car died, after getting it towed home i started troubleshooting. i found the spade on the fuse block for my ignition didnt have any power to it. my gauges acted goofy, some not working and power windows didnt work either. i tapped off of another 12v and the car started fine however, when turning the key to start the car keeps cranking but wont start until you let off the key. almost has a backwards feel if you know what i mean. i also noticed some very faint smoke coming from the glove box, possible from in the dash somewhere. any idea's or help would be greatly appreciated. life is sucking right now to put it mildy.
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Old May 12, 2007 | 09:10 PM
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Check the 4 wire connector under the hood by the hood alarm switch.
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Old May 12, 2007 | 09:11 PM
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had a similiar thing happen to my 79 last year, driving along and smoke started coming thru dash vents, gauges erratic, luckily I was only a mile from home and got her in the garage. but once I turned her off that was it, would not start or do anything, turned out to be the ignition switch. just a thought. good luck
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Old May 12, 2007 | 09:13 PM
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sent pm's to both, not sure where each are located
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Old May 12, 2007 | 09:24 PM
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the 4 wire connector (2 reds and a purple and a black)comes from the starter-with a test light probe both red wires-they should both have 12 volts
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Old May 12, 2007 | 09:46 PM
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they both have power
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Old May 12, 2007 | 09:59 PM
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or hsould i say both red ones have power
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Old May 12, 2007 | 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 2dhoffman
they both have power
Good that means both fusible links are good.The next connection is the bulkhead connector.Try tightening the 3/8 bolt in the center that holds the bulkhead together.
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Old May 12, 2007 | 10:13 PM
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already had that apart and reconnected tightly. i should tell you that i still have that system jumped from a good 12v source. i am not connected as it was originally. does that mean that the fusible links are still good? i am not sure where the ones are that youre talking about, i seen what looked like one on the 4 pin connenctor but dont know about the other.
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Old May 12, 2007 | 10:25 PM
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you will have to remove the 12v jumper and retest--the jumper will back feed--if you dont want to remove jumper then unplug the 4 pin and probe both red wires coming from starter,if both are hot the fusible links are good

Last edited by ...Roger...; May 12, 2007 at 10:27 PM.
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Old May 12, 2007 | 10:37 PM
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i put all back to original and the are both hot full time
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:00 PM
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could something have possibly fried inside of the car, hence the smell and faint smoke?
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:04 PM
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If its hot on both sides of the connector then the red wire feeding the bulkhead should be followed and probed where it goes into the bulkhead.If you 12v at the bulkhead then remove the fuseblock and check on inside of car.The fuses are fed by one of those red wires.The other red wire feeds the headlight switch.
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 2dhoffman
could something have possibly fried inside of the car, hence the smell and faint smoke?
Yes
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:14 PM
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just to make sure i am following you correctly, the two wires i just tested at the four pin connector are both hot. one of these red wires goes to the bulkhead and the other goes to the headlight switch. you want me to find and follow the one to the bulkhead, correct? which fuses does this feed? all other fuses are hot except the ignition fuse so i do know that i am getting power to the fuse box already.
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:34 PM
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The red wire feeds all the fuses.Ok now Im confused.I was reading your other threads and thought you had no power to all the fuses.The ignition fuse?Do you have 12v to the pink wire at the distributor?
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:42 PM
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no, not with the key off or switched to the on position. no power at all...
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To 78 electrical issue- PLEASE HELP

Old May 12, 2007 | 11:46 PM
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Ok -Your talking about the spade next to the gauge fuse.Check the pink wire coming out of ignition switch--that wire feeds the "ign" spade
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:48 PM
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sounds like you have no feed out of ign switch-when you apply 12v to the ign spade you put power to dist. bypassing the ignition switch
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Old May 12, 2007 | 11:51 PM
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yes you are correct. i just checked the pink wire going tothe distributer and it has no power. am i now checking for power in the pink wire going to the ignition switch? key on/off or both?
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