1992 no electrics at all
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
1992 no electrics at all
Hello, my 92 wont crank, no lights, dash lights, dome lights, nothing. Its happened once or twice before where the whole car goes dead, but it would restart after placing it in park. Last week, I was on the freeway when the engine quit and all the electrics went out. This time it would not restart (had to get a flatbed home). I thought maybe the VATS, but reading the other threads, it seems like the lights should at least come on. The battery is brand new, and it didnt behave like a bad alternator. Thank you.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 129
Likes: 2
From: Delete Delete
Headlights, Brake lights, interior lights on the switch -- all of these work? If so .... this was the same scenario my car was when I bought it. The BCM was shot on mine. Could be a bad ground, or other wiring issue. Do you have a factory service manual -- you might need it
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
When there are no electrics, THAT is the time to start diagnosis. First measure the voltage at the battery terminals with the headlights turned on. Zero volts tells you a defective battery or a poor connection between the battery cables and the battery posts. Remove the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, bolts, and battery terminals and replace the cables (neg last). You should be doing this once a year anyway! If you have 12v approx with headlights off and zero volts with them on and the cables are clean and tight, you have a defective battery, replace it. Almost all the electrical loads go through the ignition switch and it is powered through either a fusible link or a fuse ( I think 92's use a fuse near the battery). Check the fusible link/fuse/ fuse clips for continuity (very low resistance). The ignition switch must be getting 12v and not only does it get power through a fusible link or fuse, the power comes through the firewall connector, so check for 12v on each side of the firewall connector on the pin that supplies power to the ign sw. If you have power to the ign sw but none after it with it on, then see if the ign sw is being activated by the ign lock rod.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
I'm going to assume here there is head lights and running lights and probably it is not a battery or terminal problem. I'm thinking this sounds related to the ignition switch being defective or what I really think is the linkage or switch is loose or out of alignment.
I would start here and see if that portion is OK. Then if nothing is found document the symptoms with more detail without saying all the electric is dead. With that information you can then target the root cause with better direction.
I would start here and see if that portion is OK. Then if nothing is found document the symptoms with more detail without saying all the electric is dead. With that information you can then target the root cause with better direction.
