Electrical issue - no start
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Electrical issue - no start
I havent had a problem with my '85 in a long time so I guess it was just time for a new one. I took it out for a drive christmas morning and after 4 blocks it just shut down, no indication anything was wrong. The engine wont turn over and all I have is interior lights, no dash lights.
I checked the battery, solid 12.4 volts. Nothing down at the starter though. I checked fuses, they're good. I checked the fusible links and none of them were blown. I followed the entire battery cable down to the starter and theres nothing visibly wrong with it. What else could it be???
I checked the battery, solid 12.4 volts. Nothing down at the starter though. I checked fuses, they're good. I checked the fusible links and none of them were blown. I followed the entire battery cable down to the starter and theres nothing visibly wrong with it. What else could it be???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 762
Likes: 2
From: Huntington ma
Agree with Agent86 - if you don't have battery voltage at the starter end of the positive cable then you have identified your problem. May not be on the Positive side of the battery, however - may be a Ground issue someplace. Do you see battery voltage between the positive battery terminal and the Motor?
BTW - 12.4 volts (no load) is Low for the battery, it should show at or close to 13.2v in a fully charged no load situation. Someplace in the High 12's is likely OK, 12.4v is not good...
BTW - 12.4 volts (no load) is Low for the battery, it should show at or close to 13.2v in a fully charged no load situation. Someplace in the High 12's is likely OK, 12.4v is not good...
Last edited by rons85; Dec 31, 2008 at 05:42 AM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
I checked the battery connections, they're clean and tight. Its only 12.4 because I havent been driving it much lately.
'85s dont have a PCM.
One thing I did find that seemed odd was I got a voltage reading when I touched the negative terminal to the positive but not when I touched the positive to a piece of metal. Grounding issue?
'85s dont have a PCM.
One thing I did find that seemed odd was I got a voltage reading when I touched the negative terminal to the positive but not when I touched the positive to a piece of metal. Grounding issue?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,298
Likes: 240
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
I checked the battery connections, they're clean and tight. Its only 12.4 because I havent been driving it much lately.
'85s dont have a PCM.
One thing I did find that seemed odd was I got a voltage reading when I touched the negative terminal to the positive but not when I touched the positive to a piece of metal. Grounding issue?
'85s dont have a PCM.
One thing I did find that seemed odd was I got a voltage reading when I touched the negative terminal to the positive but not when I touched the positive to a piece of metal. Grounding issue?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Austin Texas
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Indpls In
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
I have infinite resistance on both battery cables. Removed the negative cable from the bottom side of the engine and the ground from underneath the battery, both connections were good but I cleaned them anyway. I still have no power.
Where is the reverse lockout relay and how do I test it?
Where is the reverse lockout relay and how do I test it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
I have infinite resistance on both battery cables. Removed the negative cable from the bottom side of the engine and the ground from underneath the battery, both connections were good but I cleaned them anyway. I still have no power.
Where is the reverse lockout relay and how do I test it?
Where is the reverse lockout relay and how do I test it?
I assume that you mean 0 resistance, Infinite would be an open. There should also be a chassis ground strap where the neg cable attaches to the block, that would screw with some of your dash items but will not cause complete loss. I can't help you with the reverse lockout, I don't know of it.
Sorry
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
The grounds on the negative cable are good. I rechecked my fusible link fix by the starter and discovered that it has power going in and out of the link. There is also power at the starter as well, I must have messed up checking it before. Still no crank though.
My headlights still work, as well as interior lights. I know these are Hot at all times. The fuel pump is not being energized. I think it could be one of these...
Ignition Switch or Starter Interrupt Relay.
My headlights still work, as well as interior lights. I know these are Hot at all times. The fuel pump is not being energized. I think it could be one of these...
Ignition Switch or Starter Interrupt Relay.
Last edited by Demonic85; Jan 1, 2009 at 05:19 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
The grounds on the negative cable are good. I rechecked my fusible link fix by the starter and discovered that it has power going in and out of the link. There is also power at the starter as well, I must have messed up checking it before. Still no crank though.
My headlights still work, as well as interior lights. I know these are Hot at all times. The fuel pump is not being energized. I think it could be one of these...
Ignition Switch or Starter Interrupt Relay.
My headlights still work, as well as interior lights. I know these are Hot at all times. The fuel pump is not being energized. I think it could be one of these...
Ignition Switch or Starter Interrupt Relay.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Have you considered your starter solenoid ?? If you have power at your starter, try tapping the starter with a rubber mallet while someone is turning the ignition to "start". If you have power, and the battery is OK, most likely your starter solenoid is bad. When you turn ignition on, do your gauges light up ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
It does not have the pellet in the key. I started taking apart the dash to get to the neutral safety switch. There are two wires coming out of it, a green one and a yellow one. I know the green one goes to the ignition switch. Should this wire have any voltage when the ignition is turned to on? I checked it and got 0 volts.