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ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over.

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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 11:26 PM
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Default ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over.

Just got the interior back in. Everything seems hunky dory until I go to start the thing. NOT EVEN A CLICK!! Nope. It isn't a dead battery. Read on, then give me some clues where to start looking....

Here's what I know:
*all fuses are good
*turn signals NOT working properly. Instead of "blinka, blinka, blinka" they're going "blink......................blink....... ....................blink............... ...." they blinked for about 5 or 6 times and then stopped. :confused: couldn't get them to turn on again.
*hazards ARE working
*brake lights/pedal works ok
*horn works
*ignition positions work for accessories (radio...umm....don't have any other accessories :) )
*Wipers are NOT working. Hearing a click but nothing happening.

I don't have that whole reverse-lockout thing in my car

*When the key is turned with the clutch out, there's no current drain
*When the key is turned with the clutch IN, there IS some current drain as indicated by a slight dimming of the 'seat belt' light and of the headlights if they're on.

Got my laminated wiring diagram out and I'm going to check it over. Any suggestions, let me know.

Thanks!




[Modified by ddecart, 11:55 PM 4/20/2003]
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:03 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

When mine died in the driveway----it's still not on the road yet----turned out the wire to the starter had slipped off and once reattached and tightened, she fired right up. Not sure about your other electrical gremlins........ Rick :chevy
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:11 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (454Can-Am)

This is confusing the hell out of me. I have NEVER (well, not in the past 5+ years) had any sort of starter problem. To have this suddenly happen at the same time that I tore out the dash is too much to be coincidence.

Turn signals, wipers, starter. UGH! I can't see how they're related at all!


*edit*
I'm starting to see.....
Not sure about the turn signals, but I got out some crayons and started coloring the wiring diagram.
Looks like the wipers and the starter have the ignition switch in common.

Something to fudge with in the morning. :seeya


[Modified by ddecart, 12:32 AM 4/21/2003]
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:34 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

I'd look at the ignition switch, there's a lot of cross routing there.


[Modified by biltogo, 11:36 PM 4/20/2003]
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:43 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

Hey, I know you are moderator and all, so don't take away my points for saying this, but is your battery hooked up backwards? I've seen this before on a VW. Everything half-way worked except the radio & wipers.
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:59 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

Just my .02....But I'm putting my money on a bad switch..It ultimately routes the power to the various accessories,lights and relays. Also, maybe double check all connectors to make sure they are solid. A bad or weak ground can also cause gremlins galore...Don't ya just love those electrical boogers..$&%#@.....Good Luck :banghead: :confused: :banghead:
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 01:16 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (WhyFly)

Slow blinkers are a sign of a dead battery. My money is on the battery or the connections.
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 01:26 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (wombvette)

I used to have a ford that would eat solinoids (sp?) and this is what would happen when they would go out. Everything worked except when it came to starting. This would support other suggestions of checking starter connections.

I hate electrical problems :banghead:


[Modified by 77Dream, 10:28 PM 4/20/2003]
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 11:00 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

This is confusing the hell out of me. I have NEVER (well, not in the past 5+ years) had any sort of starter problem. To have this suddenly happen at the same time that I tore out the dash is too much to be coincidence.

Turn signals, wipers, starter. UGH! I can't see how they're related at all!


*edit*
I'm starting to see.....
Not sure about the turn signals, but I got out some crayons and started coloring the wiring diagram.
Looks like the wipers and the starter have the ignition switch in common.

Something to fudge with in the morning. :seeya


[Modified by ddecart, 12:32 AM 4/21/2003]
Dave, yes the common is power feed from the ign. switch.

Let's look at the ign switch on the back of the steering column (This is a PITA to get to), with the assumption that batery is good.

The #12 Red wires feed the main power to the IGN. SW.
The #12 Pink wire is the switched power to accessories for the entire car.

The #12 Purple wire is the starter solenoid feed! This is the one that we want to look at. The PPL wire comes out the Ign. Sw will feed the power to the Neutral safety switch on the (clutch pedal for manual and shifter console for Auto). The PPL or PPL/White comes out from the neutral safety Sw to feed the power to the "S" terminal on the starter solenoid.

90% of the times, the connectors came loose somewhere at the switches.

Check your connectors, since you were "monkey around" with the interior.

Let me know if you need more help!





[Modified by Ki m Le, 11:46 AM 4/21/2003]
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 11:47 AM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (Ki m Le)

Thanks Kim

Yeah, it's definitely lookign like an ignition switch problem now that I've had a chance to sleep on it. The confusing thing is that the radio seems to work just fine, and it should be getting power through the ignition switch as well. It IS the lightest draw on that circuit, so there must be a partial connection going.

I'll crawl under it in a little while and have a look-see. Thanks for the wire color codes. I'll take another look at the wiring diagram as well.
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:19 PM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

Sometimes, I have had si milar issues related to battery cable connections
that have some corrosion/discoloring. This happens most when the stock
terminal is replaced with a clamp-on aftermarket term. The electrical connection
between the copper cable and lead terminal becomes weak. It will conduct
light current, but ask for too much and it can just die altogether.

Of course - this would be after letting the car sit for some time.
Since you were under the dash - it is more likely something you did.

Good luck !! :seeya
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:43 PM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (Ki m Le)

Hey! I didn't "monkey around" with it THAT much. I just did this to it:

:D
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 12:47 PM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

Hey! I didn't "monkey around" with it THAT much. I just did this to it:

:D
Ahhhh..... the truth comes out :lol: ;)
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 01:17 PM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (ddecart)

Dave,
I know they all came from the same ign SW, but the contacts are different for each circuit. On the ign SW, there are two different group of connectors. The black and clear plastic. The clear plastic is your starter circuit is on. Some time push them back in would fix it!

I didn't "Monkey around" either, but look what happen here to my 72:







[Modified by Ki m Le, 1:32 PM 4/21/2003]
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 01:30 PM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (Ki m Le)

Of all the places to put that connector, they had to put it on the TOP of the column under the dash?!?! :rolleyes:

Got under there. Everything looked ok. Pushed the connector in a little and it moved a bit. hmmm.....

Wipers & signals are working now. The starter solenoid is chattering away. I'm hoping that's just a low battery. I'll try jumping it a little later.
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 01:36 PM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over. (77Dream)

Just for S&G try another battery. I had similar probelms a couple of years ago. I would have 12V on the battery and even though it would not turn over some of my accessories would work but not others. Turned out the battery was undersized and couldn't provide enough amps to turn the engine over. The battery was one that the guy I bought it from put in so it was a cheapy and small. Only about 630 CCA if I remember correctly which was good for the first three years but after that forget it. I upgraded to 840 I think and have had no problems since :thumbs:
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 04:28 PM
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Default Re: ARGH!!! Need electrical help. Won't turn over.

Update:
Jump started it and everything was fine. Apparently that 1/16" that I had to move the connector to fully plug it in was the difference.

Thanks everyone!
:thumbs:
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