Is it normal to have a 8.1 ohm resistance reading between the positive battery cable and a body ground when the battery is removed?

PJ

 

I have never tried reading it, but that sounds pretty close to what I would figure to be right.

I would be much more concerned if the neg had that much resistance.

 

shouldn't it be alot higher? or not even any reading?

 

nah.. you gotta a couple of relays and bulbs that rest directly on ground, so the only resistance would be the coil of the relay or the bulb itself.

 

Dont you love it when you get called on.

 

Thanks, dude. Just checking.

Now I have another Q... My dashboard is out of the car (big projects) and I decided to get it started (jump start). I jumped it and everything started, but then all of the sudden, my horn started honking. It stayed on, and whenever I put power to it (hook up the batt) the horn is still going. I unplugged the horns but I am worried I may have fried something in my CPU or something. Any idea?

PJ

 

The factory alarm wasn't on the 86 models, so that rules out that, but try unplugging the middle big plug on the CPU.

That should kill it for the time being.

But you'll need to check if it is the switch in the steering column (I am assuming you pulled the wheel to remove the cluster) and check that you hooked the Horn wire back up correctly at the steering wheel.

 

The steering wheel never came off... I am 100% sure it's not the switch. I think I may have accidentally grounded the two ring terminals on the harness which, I think, hook up to the gauge cluster for ilumination. Could this be related?

PJ

 

Okay in the big long plug on the CPU is a Green/orange. With the plug un-plugged is the wire resting at ground???

It should be only at ground when the horn button is pressed on the wheel.

If it is at ground, then again check the switch/steering wheel contacts. if there is not a problem there, perhaps you shorted the wire between the column and the CPU.

Not sure what rings terminals you mean, but normally ring terminals hook up to ground. What color were the wires for it.

 

Both ring terminals black wires, which made me think they were grounds. They are in the middle of the dash harness and depart only about 3" from the main cluster of wires on the harness, near the middle. I can't figure out where they'd connect, however, so I thought maybe they hook up to the instrument cluster. I will check the horn buttons again, but I am pretty sure they're fine. I will do the test you suggested and keep you posted.

Thanks for the help.

PJ

 

yeah black wires with rings, need to be attached to ground.