Electrical system completely dead

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Apr 3, 2009 | 10:30 AM

Fartleker

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 6,477

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From: Albuquerque NM

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11

Electrical system completely dead

My '89 Coupe has been having problems starting over the past few weeks, and yesterday it just completely died. No lights come on, nothing on the dash, turning the key does nothing. I tried jumping it yesterday, and it didn't help.

Any ideas?

I'm likely going to just bring it to the shop, but if is something I can easily fix, I'm always willing to try.

Apr 3, 2009 | 10:38 AM

Muffin

Race Director

Joined: Jun 1999

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From: Merritt Ils Fl

Start by checking for clean connections on battery cables especially grounds.

Apr 3, 2009 | 03:26 PM

AGENT 86

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2003

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From: Summerland B.C. Canada

Sounds like very poor battery connections.

Apr 3, 2009 | 07:56 PM

Crzyfrlss1

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 126

Likes: 1

From: Newington CT

Betcha it's a blown fusible link, I just now fixed the this same problem on my friends 85'

You can use a test light to determine if the fuses in the panel are getting any power or not.
If no power then, the fusible link is blown where it connects at the starter battery lead.

Apr 3, 2009 | 08:28 PM

383vett

Race Director

Joined: Apr 2003

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From: moraga ca

Disconnect the battery cables and check the voltage across the terminals. If none, dead battery. If there is voltage, could be corroded or bad terminals or fusable link or...?

Apr 4, 2009 | 08:30 AM

shane1975

8th Gear

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 8

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From: holland mass

i also think it is a fusable link witch is located at the starter had same problem now fixed

Apr 4, 2009 | 04:34 PM

jfb

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 54,124

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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

Measure the battery terminal voltage. 12.0 volts and below, discharged, charge the battery up overnight. Batteries left sitting discharged for long periods, ruins the battery and they cannot be charged up. In that case, buy a new battery. Fully charged batteries measure 12.9 volts and above and linear between 12.0 and 12.9 volts.
Jumping a dead battery makes it very difficult to crank because jumper cables usually cannot supply both, dead battery charging current and 100+ amps of starter current. It is best to charge the battery for 5 minutes before attempting to jump start a car with a dead battery.
There is a fusible link that supplies current to the ignition switch and the ign sw supplies current to almost every circuit in the car. This fusible link is one of the 8 wires on the jump start bolt behind the battery.