2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

car has no power inside cabin and wont start!!

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Old May 17, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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car has no power inside cabin and wont start!!

when i turn the key to on no stereo no volt meter pops up. no fuel guage. battery is fine. has power on main fuse block. thought it was the ignition switch and changed it out, didnt fix the problem. any ideas?
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Old May 17, 2006 | 06:04 PM
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terminals?
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Old May 18, 2006 | 06:11 AM
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Did you check the fuses in the inside fuse box?
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Old May 18, 2006 | 07:20 AM
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Bad battery terminals could cause this. If you haven't, check to make sure you're getting voltage in the On position (if you just tested with the key off).

Do your interior lights work? Headlights? If so, you're ignition switch is isn't getting power.
Originally Posted by Hailers
Ok. Your voltmeter and fuel gauge do not work along with the idiot lights. BUT the headlights and interior lights work plus horn etc.

That is a common problem when you don't get power from the BLACK wire that leads from the 80amp Main Fuse in the engine fuse box to the BLACK wire on the three igniton switch plugs.

If you pull apart the two wire connector at the ignition switch and read the voltage at the BLACK wire it should read battery voltage what ever that happen to be at the moment.

IF it does not, then you have a bad wire/connection on that BLACK wire or its connection to the engine fuse box.

NORMALY if you disconnect that ignition switch plug that has a BLACK wire and a BLACK AND WHITE wire in it, then put a jumper wire b/t the BLACK and the BW wire, the fuel gauge should now rise and the voltmeter on the combination meter should now rise to battery voltage plus if you now turn the turn signals to left or right they should now work.

If that happens only when you jumper the BLACK and the BW wire, but NOT when the plug is connected up normally and the key is to ON...........then I say you have a bad ignition switch.

But you said that the battery voltage was 12 and you only read 8 at the BLACK wire so I'd suspect a bad BLACK wire b/t the engine fuse box and the ignition switch OR the alternator is dragging the voltage down thru a internal short (not likely).

I assume when you turned the headlights on they were bright and the retractors went up/down as you turned the lights on/off. Meaning the battery is good enough to supply enough voltage to the combination meter/turn signals/idiot lights. Things you are not getting power to.
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Old May 18, 2006 | 11:18 AM
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From: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
Originally Posted by dregg100
when i turn the key to on no stereo no volt meter pops up. no fuel guage. battery is fine. has power on main fuse block. thought it was the ignition switch and changed it out, didnt fix the problem. any ideas?

Do the headlights work, but there's no action out of the key?? That's the key question.

IF the headlights go up/down and the headlights are bright, then you've just lost the power to the ignition key. If so, then restore power to the ignition key.
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Old May 18, 2006 | 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by HAILERS
Do the headlights work, but there's no action out of the key?? That's the key question.

IF the headlights go up/down and the headlights are bright, then you've just lost the power to the ignition key. If so, then restore power to the ignition key.
1 sec, let me add that to my Hailers word file on my computer . I'm trying to think how many times I've quoted you altogether... (this is DerangedHermit)
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Old May 18, 2006 | 01:09 PM
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Check directly under the Main Fuse box in the engine bay, there should be a single spade connector (black) that is unplugged (it shouldn't be) Plug that back in and it should start right up.
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Old May 18, 2006 | 01:42 PM
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Been there, done that

The problem is one of two things. Either:

1. The main fuse is blown. It is the black one in the box next to the battery and the only one held in place on either side with a 10MM nut. Or,

2. The connector from the main fuse to the harness is corroded much like what happens when the battery posts become covered in corrosion. Probably because that connector is very near the battery, so exposed to battery fumes. Look at where the large black wire runs into the connector. If it's covered with a a powdery light blue/green substance, try washing down both the wire connection to the connector as well as the male and female spades with acetone or water. Also might want to heat some flux into where the wire connects to the spades to insure the wire has good connection them. Maybe even heat some solder into the connection points to be sure.

As a way to confirm #2, run a jumper wire (any gauge) from the positive of the battery to the contact on the back of the key cylinder (you'll need to pull off the steering colume shroud to access) and touch the contact where the largest black wire connects with the key on. If everything lights up, that confirms it.
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