flying taco

Whats up guys??? Ok... well, on the trip back from cincy today I was just cruisin along and then all of the sudden....*click* my tach, boost gauge, fuel and temp guages quit working as well as all my idiot lights... before i go searching through all my fuses does anyone have any other ideas?? Another electrical prob.... sometimes might lights get dimmer and brighter when I'm just driving along... not hitting the breaks or anyhting power draining at all. Oh yeah... and the other day when i had my hood up i was cranking the engine and i kept hearing poping sounds like sparks flyin around... ideas??
Thanks

Aaron

Keith

OK, all guage/warning lights come off the same fuse. 2nd row middle, 7.5 amp. If you replace it and it blows again, sorry, no quick answer, you will have to find your short. As for the lights dimming, I would check your engine block ground and chassis ground, and repair if needed. There should be less than .02 volts between these points and the battery negative terminal. Check the alternator belt for tightness. If this is ok, your Alternator may be going. As for popping sounds, you most likely have bad spark plug wires. Replace, and see how it goes.

Irv, Keith's dad

flying taco

Well... my alternator was bad... so i replaced it.... put in a new fuse the gauges worked for a bit and then pop.... they went bye bye again.... ****... how am i supposed to figure where the hell a short is??

Thanks

Aaron

SaabGuy

I remember someone saying a few days ago that the ground for the entire guage pod is under the hood, right at the firewall. Theres like a lame spade terminal with a black wire attached to it. I actually thought this wire was for the tranny but someone said otherwise.

Keith

If the fuse did not blow right away, you either have an intermittent short, or you seem to be slightly exceeding the load capacity on that circuit. For an intermittent short, I would suggest replacing the fuse, starting the car and wiggling the wiring harnesses. Whichever harness blows the fuse when you wiggle it, has the short. If you can't find it this way, or your load is a little too high, replace with a larger fuse (maybe 10A?). It may not blow. Be warned, though, that you are getting in the area of what we call the "component fuse" - where something blows up to protect the fuse! Of course, this may be a good thing, just replace what burned up, and you have fixed your problem. Again, if you use a bigger fuse, please understand clearly you may blow something out! So please realize this and don't blame me! Legaleze for CMA!

Irv, Keith's dad

Felix Wankel

Hey Irv, both my TII's had that problem, and it was the backup light switch shorting and blowing the gauge fuse. I unplugged the bullet connectors for it, and the fuse quit blowing. I just don't have backup lights anymore

HAILERS

In reference to what FELIX WANKEL said: I remember another fellow on this forum who had that same problem with the backup sw on the transmission shorting out. He did like Felix and disconnected the two bullet connectors. I looked for that thread yesterday and could not find it. Seems like the guy was from Dallas. I think ICEMARK got him on the right path, but like I said I could not find the thread. The two bullet connectors are just aft of the starter I believe(said HAILERS with doubt in his mind).

SureShot

Joke #1 - It is a faulty fuse
Joke #2 - Shunt the fuse - Whatever catches fire - that's the problem.