Re: [DML] Re: unusual electrical issue

[Nick Kemp <nkemp@xxxxxxxx>]

A couple thoughts:
- Early VINs had a wiring mod for the starter that improved the current 
flow to the starter.
- Is your VIN before or after? (Anyone know when (VIN) the changeover 
was implemented?)
- If before, does it have the mod?
- Check your fuse connections for overheated terminals. Fix or replace 
as needed.
- Check the ground connections. This has given my car fits on occasion
- The main ground connected to the trailing arm bracket (passenger side) 
was perfectly tight yet enough corrosion built up enough to kill the 
car. Note that I had just driven it, stopped for about 1 minute and when 
I went to restart it was dead (totally dead in this case)
- When I ran an additional ground from the common ground point straight 
up from the gas pedal, it SUBSTANTIALLY improved current flow to the 
dash. No longer did the volt meter read so anemic and the lights are 
brighter.
- I Ran a new ground bus just to alleviate these problems. If you plan 
in improving the ground cluster above the gas pedal, picking up the 
remaining points along the tunnel is a piece of cake.

- I believe this test works. Using a volt meter, put the negative 
terminal to the battery negative and then touch the positive to the car 
panel. If you see about 12Vdc, then you have a ground issue. I believe 
that was the test that pointed me towards the failed connection at the 
trailing bolt bracket.
- A volt meter can be very helpful with troubleshooting electrical 
issues. That said, I have experienced voltage present yet insufficient 
current to activate the problematic device. Very frustrating.

QUESTION to the forum as a whole... is there a circuit breaker in the 
problematic circuits? A circuit breaker tripping would cause the failure 
mode and when they reset would bring it back to life. A marginal breaker 
or marginal load could cause the periodicness of the issue.

I can't say that these will fix your problem but if there are issues 
with any of these points it is worth the fix.
Nick


> > >
> > > --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>, 
> KiwiDean@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > On occasion, my motor cuts out and will not turn over (starter 
> motor
> > > > completely dead). The instrument panel shows no lights which 
> seems to indicate
> > > > no battery power at all, yet internal lights and headlights are 
> still
> > > > working okay. After a while, power comes back to the instrument 
> panel and I can
> > > > start the car. Anything in particular I should check?
> > > >
> > > > Dean
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
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> 



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