Weird electrical/battery problem
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 62
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From: scarborough maine
Weird electrical/battery problem
I accidently hooked up the battery backwards when putting it back into the car, and now i am not getting any power. The only thing electrical that will work is my high beams..... Bad ground maybe? what could i have blown?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Maybe blown the fuse link- There are two of them down by the starter and another one near the horn relay. Get a 12v testlight and start tracing the wires from the big post on the starter. About 6" from the starter lug is where the first 2 are. Inline with the harness.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 766
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From: Charlotte North Carolina 704-394-5150
Make sure that you replace the fusable links with the same gauge as like those removed. And that you try to make sure that the length is as close to the same as like those burned out. When you buy the fusable link, on the packaging it will instruct you on how to determine what size fusable link to buy for the size of the parent wire in the harness that it is connected to. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! "DUB"
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 62
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From: scarborough maine
I searched for a fuse link by the starter and there wasn't one istalled with the starter, all the wiring was redone. Maybe this would have screwed up the starter solenoid then? but i still dont see why no power anywhere else? Is there more links or fuses somewhere and what else could have blown???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Boca Raton Florida
get in there with a test light and start tracing, start on the big lug on the starter. Follow each of the wires coming off there to the other end. Dunno about your year, but a late C3 has a connector that connects the starter harness including the fuse links to the main engine harness. It is locates behind the passenger side valve cover and the pin connections in there are weak and old and will burn, check there too. Verify battery cables, both ends, might have killed off a weak connection there too
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
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From: Boca Raton Florida
one other thing, the fuse link is actually just a piece of wire 2 sizes smaller than the one it protects. The gizmo Tim talked about 6" or so from the starter is actually a splice that attaches the fuse link wire to the main wire. They look like a white plastic fuse holder sortof.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina 704-394-5150
Sixfooter is correct. The six terminal connector often times gets hot and melts due to resistance in the connectors( if your has one---which it should). I often times cut this connection out and solder and shrink-wrap the wiring. It was used for speed during assembly at the factory but it was not a good idea when you think about what these wiring are carring for current loads. One half of the connector should be white and teh other half is black. Keep us informed on your progress
