I know, tracing an elect problem is as much fun as working on someone else's rust old exgaust.

But someone here might really know a thing or two here to help me find the fault.

Car is 1985 (FB) 5sp, 12a, lowered, and only autocrosses & short trips in nice weather. (recently checked batt. and starter and all grounds to chassis).

Sometimes when I step on the brake all the elect. in the car is momentarily killed = car keeps running fine, but noticable via the radio and headlamps (that are rarely on). this momentary "kill" lasts only 1/2 second or so - enough to make you notice w/ radio reset or an "Oh Shi...." if lights die in dark. - then everything "resets"

One would guess a ground SOMEWHERE - but I cannot find an issue anywhere.
Anyone?
Thanks in advance.
jeffy

 

the brake light switch at the pedal might be at fault or a momentary short in that circuit.

 

THANKS, I'll check that out.
Might be a few weeks as I have a trip planning beginning tomorrow but I will let you know what I find.

 

I say check your battery. I've help fixed a couple of the members on the forum here. All of them had a dead or very weak battery where when you step on the brake, all electricity went out but comes on intermittently. But sometime it would be ok. Check that battery first =).

Good luck.

-AzEKnightz

 

Hey Jeffy, you might consider posting your questions in the 1st gen tech section. You get a lot more visibility there.

If this were my car, I would start with new battery cables (if you haven't done this already). They corrode internally and can cause all kinds of weird ****. This will also ensure that all connections are good, clean, and tight when the installation is finished.

I had the same problem that you are describing (mainly random radio reset) when I was headed down to North Carolina for the Deals Gap Rotary Rally earlier this year. When I got down there, I discovered that the terminal that connects to the negative post on the battery was cracked. That entire cable has now been replaced.

Good luck man. I missed you at the GVSU event, and you disappeared on me at the US131 race.






.

 

Back at it today (finally).
Brake switch first..... then the Battery (I know has a bad cell- but the volt meter in the car hardly drops when I loose elect power).
Either way - I'll post here w/ what turns up... but somehow I wonder if it may be tied into the ign. switch

 

Not the brake switch. Not the Battery.
Local mechanic (Holland Imports) suggests running a second and larger power lead from the starter to the fuse box and...Bingo! looks like we're fixed (knock wood) - even though this wire looked, tested good we could not really load test it.
No killer sound system in this car so one would not expect the stock wire to be overly stressed - but, it seems to be the fix.

 

Hopefully you've got her sorted out now Jeff. Good luck

 

much more fun to drive when the electrical gremlins are not attacking you