Odd electrical problem ?

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Feb 26, 2014 | 06:57 AM

C4in mesa

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 1,439

Likes: 23

From: mesa az

Odd electrical problem ?

Last night I was at the gym and when I got in my 1988 to go home I got in and turned the key. The car started up right away and ran just fine. I pulled the light **** and nothing happened. The radio would not respond either. The interior lights would not come on. The gear indicator light would not come on. The panel where the door open and SES light was off. I turned the car off 2 or 3 times and the problem would not go away. I disconnected the battery and that did not work either. I did that twice. The lights under the hood were not working. I went around and checked the fuses and they all showed no indication a fuse had burned out. Since I was in the city and the street lights keep the streets light well enough I decided to go home anyway. The flashers worked so I turned them on and had the headlight **** pulled. I went 2.5 miles and then everything came back on. The headlights, gear indicator light and radio. This just seems so strange ? I have no idea where to go with this problem ? In my opinion it is an electrical problem. But what is acting up or failing ?

Feb 26, 2014 | 07:24 AM

red89c4

Racer

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 394

Likes: 6

From: woodstock ga

you will need to inspect all of the grounds, do a search on here for C4 ground locations. good luck with your repairs.

Feb 26, 2014 | 08:59 AM

86 pace car

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 205

Likes: 1

From: Selden ny

Maybe it could be the courtesy lamp timer delay it solved a similiar problem on my 86

Feb 27, 2014 | 05:37 AM

HlhnEast

Safety Car

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 4,328

Likes: 15

From: Jacksonville FL

I would look at the headlight/dimmer switch or its ground. With the headlights out and all panel lighting that goes thru the switch out it would seem logical to me(not that my logic is all that sound sometimes). Where the radio fits in I dunno unless its aftermarket and the installer somehow tied it to the lighting circuit. When it happens again, pull the CTSY fuse and see if there is power across the blades. Check the headlight fuse socket the same way. If you have power there, I would pull the headlight switch to access the wiring harness and see if you have power in to the switch and it is coming out. I am thinking the panel lighting gets power thru the TAIL fuse as well so check it at the box.

Just a few ideas to start on.

Good luck!

Feb 27, 2014 | 11:00 PM

pcolt94

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 5,620

Likes: 206

From: Orlando FL

Those are a lot of systems not to work for all to have a common ground. As a suggestion, I would look at any of the fuse boxes or fuse links under the hood. Seems like there might be a major voltage feed that might be loose, corroded and in bad shape.

Try turning the headlight on and pull, wiggle and inspect all you can. Look for anything in bad shape or suspicious. See if the lights or radio flicker when you pull on something.

Last edited by pcolt94; Feb 28, 2014 at 10:17 AM. Reason: spelling

Feb 28, 2014 | 05:46 AM

C4in mesa

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 1,439

Likes: 23

From: mesa az

My friend suggested my odd electrical problem might be a result of the underdrive pulley. I admit that there have been at times very strange issues but never anything that affected me being able to drive the car. My radio not working or the lights being dim and only for a matter of seconds. At a stop with everything running including the A/C as I recall this last happened. Saturday I will check out grounds and see if I find anything.

Feb 28, 2014 | 06:47 AM

hooked073

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 2,082

Likes: 3

From: Conowingo Maryland

I agree with Hiln I would take a hard look at your head light switch.

Feb 28, 2014 | 09:32 AM

C4in mesa

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 1,439

Likes: 23

From: mesa az

I will check out the switch for sure. However I feel its unlikely to have much affect on the interior lights, radio, and hood lights. More likely a ground issue the fact it is intermittent makes me think that or my underdrive pulley.