Electrical gurus please help. I had a bit of an electrical fire the other day after a very stupid mistake. After cleaning up all the extinguisher dust, and replacing wires that I could see that were burned, I started having problems with starting the car. Initially, the starter was slow to crank (even though I have 12.4V), but it would start after about 10 seconds. Then, while trying to start the car, I had smoke coming from the steering column. Upon inspection, the black wire on the outside, lower position of the switch was melted. I've tried everything except cutting open the main loom going through the firewall to trace this wire to no avail. Does anyone know what this wire leads to? I've looked at the wiring diagrams, but I just can't figure it out. Any help would be appreciated. Oh yeah, 1988 N/A, used to be automatic, now 5-speed. Thanks again.

 

i say change you engine wiering harness, maybe rebuild your starter, and does the wire go to the ignition. the place where you put the key in?

 

I think that might be going a little too far. Yes it goes to the ignition switch. Like I said, the wire in the outer / bottom position on the switch if looking at it from the drivers door. I'm getting a ground from the wire, when I think it's supposed to be hot. So, I would like to know where the wire leads to, so I can just route a new one.

 

Is it a black wire w/ a red stripe? goes to the starter cut relay according to fsm

 

That's what I was thinking too, but looked at all the wires going into the relay, and they all looked okay. No melted insulation, etc..... I can't really tell if the wire had a red stripe or not, because most of the insulation melted already. Thanks for the input though.

 

Did the ENTIRE run of wire melt? Sometimes only sections having more resistance will melt the shielding.

 

Go to that wire that is melted. Follow it down the steering column. There is a plug there that it connects to. Now on the plug that connects to that plug, tell us what the color of THAT wire is, please.

Other than that, this has all the traits of the batterys negative wire not being connected good to the long bolt on the starter. You might check that first. But let us know the color of the wire that the burnt one connects to. ABout a foot down the steering column.

 

I had already traced the wire as far as where it starts to go into the main loom. Most of the insulation has already melted off. I'm not sure, but it looks as if it may have brown or green spots on it (mainly black), with no evidence of a stripe. These are the times when I hate being color blind. Once again, black with either brown, or green spots. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Update. I have now determined that the wire in question is one of two that send power somewhere when the ignition switch is turned to the start position. One wire goes to the starter, this I know already because I wired it myself when I did my auto to manual swap. That leaves only one option, but I can't figure out what that option is on the wiring diagram. I'm pretty sure it does not go to the starter relay, because I can pull the relay and still start the car. Could it be the interlock switch? If so, where is it???? I'm at a total loss, and getting very frustrated, so anyone out there that knows what this might be, please help. Thanks.

 

i dont see any wire attaching to the longbolt of my starter, is there somewhere else that the guy who rebuilt my engine could have put it and my car actually still work? Sorry for threadjacking!!

 

I guess I'll forgive you since it bumps it up anyway. Still looking for help!

 

to the top!

 

bumpity

 

bump!

 

The batterys negative cable usually connects to the outboard bolt that holds the starter on. It could be attached somewhere nearby and still function as a battery ground. Its a large cable, so I don't really see why you can't find it. It's there nearby I'm sure. The battery Positive cable should be attached to the starter solenoid, so don't mistake that one for the negative cable.

 

OK, this thread went a little off course here. This is the problem. There are two wires at the ignition switch that send power in the start position. One wire, I know, sends power through the interlock switch to the starter (clip type attachment at the starter). The other wire is the problem. It is grounding somewhere, and I'm not sure where, so, what I'd like to know, is where that wire goes to, so I can replace it and enjoy driving my car again. Once again, all help appreciated!

 

OK, this thread went a little off course here. This is the problem. There are two wires at the ignition switch that send power in the start position. One wire, I know, sends power through the interlock switch to the starter (clip type attachment at the starter). The other wire is the problem. It is grounding somewhere, and I'm not sure where, so, what I'd like to know, is where that wire goes to, so I can replace it and enjoy driving my car again. Once again, all help appreciated!

 

thanks hailers....and bump for the pirate!!

 

bump till I get an answer!

 

****OK, this thread went a little off course here. This is the problem. There are two wires at the ignition switch that send power in the start position. One wire, I know, sends power through the interlock switch to the starter (clip type attachment at the starter). The other wire is the problem. It is grounding somewhere, and I'm not sure where, so, what I'd like to know, is where that wire goes to, so I can replace it and enjoy driving my car again. Once again, all help appreciated!****



IF and I mean IF.....I had the color of the wire, I might be able to tell you. NOT the color of the wire AT the ignition switch, but the color of the wire at the CONNECTOR....which is located about a foot from the ignition switch.

There are THREE (3) connectors for the ignition switch:
a. Single wire, BLACK/RED
b. Two wire BLACK/WHITE and White/Blue
c. Two wire in a three socket: White/Green and White/Red

If the color is burnt off, then you should be able to figure out what color it WAS by looking at the above wires in a, b, c.

 

The connector in question has 4 wires in, 4 wires out. One wire is Red/Black, Burned wire, and other two wires are solid colors. This car was an automatic before, if that makes any difference...

 

It could be the swap from the automatic. The BLACK wire with the RED stripe BR, goes from the ignition switch to the INTERLOCK SWITCH which is on a manual car, a switch located on the clutch pedal. When the switch is MADE, a circuit is made to the BG(black/green) wire on the other side of the switch.

From the BG wire it either goes to the Starter Cut RElay under the Trail Coil assy if you have theft protection, or if you don't have theft protection it goes to a jumper wire located under the Trail Coil assy. From there it goes to the starter solenoid on a BW or black/white wire.

 

A jpg:

 

Thanks Hailers for the help so far. Weird thing though. The one wire that goes to the interlock switch, I had to rewire directly to the starter, (when I did the swap I didn't know what else to do), So as it stands, i've been able to start my car without depressing the clutch pedal. Also, just testing things out, I removed the starter cut relay, and was still able to start the car. Looking at diagrams over and over again, it seems like this wire might jump into the main battery wire going to the starter. Could it be some kind of damage in the starter itself?

 

bump it up!