Did I pull an 8VGumby? Electrical gremlins make me crazy!

[Guest Anonymous]

I've done my research in the books, but figured it might be more

helpful for some real-life experience. THis is what happened this past

weekend (in this order, in case it is important):

1. Car running fine, starts fine, no problem.

2. I see that I've burned out a high-beam fuse and replace it.

3. Parking lights come on, high beams come on, but no regular

beams.

4. Weird. So I go to start, but turn the key and NOTHING happens. No

turn over, no dash lights, just a click.

5. I wait five or ten minutes and try again. Lights don't come on, but

now the key starts the car. Even after it's started, the lights don't work.

6. Turn the car off, try it again and it doesn't do anything (see #4).

Shit.

7. Wait again, try again, and it runs again. But same issue with the

lights.

8. Kick the car door and throw the keys into the pond.

Besides the obvious, that I now hate this silly project, does anyone

have any guidance on where to look. The wiring is a huge mess from

the P.O., who apparently wired an LED clock in the dash and installed

an aftermarket radio with four speakers. Used whatever wiring he had

around the house, it appears. I'm just waiting to find baling wire or a

coat hanger in there someplace.

Many thanks in advance.

Oh yeah, part deux: I've looked everywhere, but can't find a picture of

an anthracite metallic gray versus a dark gray. Anyone have a pic they

can post?

Many thanks in advance. Beers on me to whoever can figure it out.

Mike

[Guest Anonymous]

Previous owner also installed an LCD clock and stereo w/4 speakers. (Maybe both our POs had the work done by the same friend!)

I can't remember if I found a definitive thing that fixed it, but I did disconnect the stereo completely and pulled all the wiring out (it's an old Alpine that doesn't work). I also noticed that someone had plugged a positive wire into the wrong fuse under the fuse box. I'm sorry I can't give a step by step rundown of what I did to trace it, but I studied the electrical diagram, pulled all the fuses, and started checking the electrical circuits. I cleaned my grounds (again), and also checked the hazard switch and its connections (a common gremlin). I never fully explored why whatever it was that I changed fixed the problem, so I don't why all of a sudden I had that problem.

On 30 year old cars that have changed hands a few times, it's not uncommon to have your own little unique gremlin running around. That's why when I have to, I resort to pulling all the fuses and checking everything remotely related to my problem until I find something. One thing I do - when I replace my fuses, I not only clean everything off with a Dremel and wire wheel, I put a little dielectric grease at the contact points too. The electrical connections last longer.

[Guest Anonymous]

I hate this kind of thing, I am that P.O. in my case, ha ha ha. Just finished cleaning up my wiring, and amazing how much better the car behaves electrically now.

My advice to you is to pull all the fuses (d/c battery first!!!) then clean all the contacts with a fine wire brush, some steel wool, or very fine emery cloth. This is the first thing I tell everyone to do when they have mysterious electrical gremlins.

Then look to see where the P.O. (s) tapped for switched hot for the stereo, if he grabbed a wire from the key mechanism, that's a bad place to get 12v+ switched, could be the source of your issues.

Finally, I'd spend a weekend cleaning it all up. Thats a lot of work sometimes, but in the end, electrical systems that work are a big bonus!

Here's my Anthrazit grey metallic '76

---------

BigDog

'76 2002

[Guest Anonymous]

the voltage of the wires at any component/part that doesnt work, check the volts on both sides of the fuses when lights are turned on and check the starter soleniod voltage, learn how to use it and it will be of great help. Harbor Freight, Radio Shack sell them.

[Guest Anonymous]

the battery terminals (+ & -) at the battery end and the starter (+) and both grounds (body & engine)ends. Remove terminals (neg first) at both ends and clean 'em 'till they're shiny. And while the + terminal is off the battery, remove the heavy wire that's bolted to the terminal, make sure it's not corroded at the end, clean and reinstall.

That, and cleaning your fuses should clear up a lot of weird electrical problems on an '02...but never the mess left by a ham-fisted PO!

Good luck

Mike