Maybe someone can help me with this. I'll probably post it in the 2nd Gen section tomorrow if not.

Just got an 88 Vert a couple weeks ago and it ran fine up until today. It has a short in the door panels somewhere that will drain the battery overnight; that's not the problem though. So in looking for the short, I re-connected everything in the panels and drove it to my friend's.

After a couple hours, I tried to raise the top and it wouldn't go (low battery I assume). It started right up, so I went home and used a battery charger for a couple hours on 2Amp trickle while the battery was completely disconected. Left it disconnected overnight (but not charging), hooked it back up this morning, and the top came halfway up and stopped like it does at the "checkpoint," but wouldn't move afterwards. So I tried starting the car up, but all I heard was a popping or snapping sound before I lost all power. I assume this was a fuse.

When I turn the key to the on position, I get nothing. Absolutely no power. After reading a bunch of other threads, I doesn't look like it's the main fuse since the headlights won't even come on. All the fuses look fine . What could this be? Wiring harness or something? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Oh and sorry for the wall of text

 

I'll have to defer to the 2ndgen guru's for this one...thread approved.

Mario III

 

Thanks Mario.

UPDATE: I just tore apart the fusebox underneath the hood. Like completely apart. I took out every fuse and disconnected every connector. Everything looks fine. After re-assembling it, I connected the battery and turned the key to the ON position, and I have power again. At least until I try to start the car. Then I hear the same popping sound without any cranks, and I have to tear apart the box again.

I think maybe I overcharged the battery. I'm getting 12.30 V on the disconnected battery and 11.83 V or so between the negative terminal and cable. Anyone have any similar problems?

 

The battery was overcharged. I left the brights and AC on for like 10 minutes until it drained to 11.95 V or so, and it started right up. Now I just have to check and make sure nothing else is blown.

Feel free to close this now that everything got figured out, unless someone wants to hijack it with an electrical question or link to a tutorial or something. If anyone has good advice on reading circuit diagrams or finding shorts, feel free.

 

Let us know if something reoccurs...this still doesn't sound right.