DBookatay

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys, I could REALLY use some help on this one here. I've been a member of the forum for awhile now, but usually I just read everybody's posts, and figure out whatever problem I'm having on my own. Well, I'm COMPLETELY out of ideas this time.

For whatever reason, the car is not getting any "switched" power. Everything that is constant, headlights, brake lights, interior lights, ect. works fine, but that's about all. Power is not coming into the car. The ignition, radio, electric fan (that I wired to run whenever the car is on), nothing! I've checked all the fuses (that I know of,) and none were blown. There's a brand new Optima yellow top so I know it's not the battery either, and I used a test light on the starter and there's power going to the starter, but somewhere between the starter and the ignition it gets lost. Is there a fuseable link that I don't see? Has this problem happened to anyone else?

Just a little background... '86 N/A with a few minor mods, nothing major yet. I bought the car in January as a beater off of my buddy after he got into an accident with it and ever since I've owned it its been nothing but headaches! He owned it for years and not a single major problem.

When I bought the car I was having trouble starting it because of the really cold weather (live in CT) so I ran a second battery in the trunk figuring that that's what they do with diesels, so it would work right? We'll after doing that this "no power" thing started happening. Every once in a while when I would go to start it it just wouldn't get switched power, but if you let it sit for like 10 minutes after you first turned it over then it would crank over. So I took the second battery out and installed the Optima, it WAS running great for about a month...

The strangest part is that before (with the 2nd battery) this problem would only happen on startup, after it was running it was fine, but this time it actually lost all switched power while the car was idling, IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREAKING BLIZZARD!!!. My buddy had to push me bumper to bumper back into my driveway, and it's been sitting there since then. I try everyday to see if MAYBE I'll get luck, but to no avail!

Does ANYONE have any suggestions, ideas, or a gun and a can of gas to put both myself and my car out of our miseries?

iceblue

1. Is the ignition broken? to check pull the under cover off, on the left side philps screw remove and pull round plastic circle with wires down. Use a flat screw driver and turn this see if they pop on.

2. There is a single wire black that uses a spade connector insulated it is located with the jumble under the engin bay fuse panel. Check to see you have a good connection here.

3. Your main relay could be bad. Use another relay to test.

4. Main relay not getting power. Jumper a jump wire set from the + battery over to the relay 2pin black with white tracer wire. Cut away a small section of the ruber to exspose wire and clamp to there and see if the relay pops on.

Other than this I dont know. I feel for you I was just there they other day banging my head against the wall trying to find a short in the electrical system. it is a nightmare! Best of luck man.

DBookatay

iTrader: (1)

By main relay are you refering to the one on the left side, close to the firewall? Because I already swapped that. I also but in a whole new ignition switch. NOTHING!

I had a parts car so I already change everything that I could think of. I'll try jumping it though, to see what might happen.

Wish me luck!

wthdidusay82

iTrader: (15)

i would check for burnt wires, i have to change my wiring harnesses because of a problem very similar to yours, my car had no ignition but turned over and all the lights would come on. come to find out the wiring harness is fried and all revamped by whoever tried fixing it once before. im switching the harnesses with my parts car

Apathy

When you say all of the fuses, do you also mean the fuses in the engine bay? B/c I dont remember the name of the fuse, but--the one that bolts in--if its blown then you wont get any power to the inside of you car at all... Check that out, then check for continuity in the wire harness, and check your grounds... To me, I think those are your only options... my wiring harness crapped on my 87 base when I first got it, so it is a possibility...

HAILERS

LIke it was said above....if the headlights work but you have no idiot light cluster, wipers and no action when you go to start, then you have a lack of power to the ignition switch or the ignition switch is kaput.

I'd go with a lack of power to the igniton switch. The switch is fed from a single, black in color, wire from a connector just below the engine fuse box. Look below the engine fuse box, about six to eight inches below, and see if there is a connector disconnected. It will be a single wire connector.

If that is intact, look at the engine fuse box. That wire is fed from the 80amp fuse in the box. The large black fuse. That fuse is BOLTED in the box. Make sure that fuse is good. That is the only fuse that is involved in feeding the ignition switch.

HAILERS

If you have a digial meter (say yes), then go to the ignition switch. The four connectors for the ignition switch are located about a foot/foot and a half from the switch itself. Follow the wires til you find 'em. Then find the ignition switch connector that has two wires. One pure black, the other black/white.

Unplug that connector. Put a meter on the pure black wire. It should have 12v there day and night. If it does.....then the problem is probably in the ignition switch. If no power, then take a look at that connector below the fuse box for a good connection. If that connector below the engine fuse box has no power, then the eighty amp fuse is busted.

hyc140532

I got a 86 na and i am having the same problems. Headlights work, no turn signal, wipers, radio, warining cluster, or gas/battery gauge work. Once and awhile it will start, but most of the time I turn the key and nothing. If you find out let me know and i will do the same if i find out. This car has been a headache since i got it.

geargrabber

i had this very problem... no radio, cluster, idiot lights- but head lights and hazards work.

the problem turned out to be the black connector next to the powersteering pump came unplugged. This wire runs along the body inside the engine bay, about 5 or 6" below the strut tower.

HAILERS

IGNITION SWITCH is bad, OR there's a intermittent in the black wires connection.

hyc140532

i know im gonna def check out what yall are saying. I just got myself a great deal toady. Friends dad is cleaning out his junk yard. Has a 86 that is totaly fed up. But the motor/trans/ecu/wire harness are all good. He said if I come out and help him strip acouple cars for the crusher and the rx7. I can have anything i can get my hands on. I am def jumping on this. Once i get my 7 running good. Ill post anything extra I have left over. The 7 i have in my driveway with the electrical problem i got for 300 and there is not one dent on the body. Looks like my headache might soon fade away.

wthdidusay82

iTrader: (15)

let me know how it goes, im in the process of swapping parts for my car with the same problem as all of you are...my car is turning over and all the lights work etc, but it gets no ignition. come to find out wires are fried all over the place so ill be replacing it with the wiring harnesses from a parts car i have

DBookatay

iTrader: (1)

I had a parts car, stripped it down to pretty much frame, but didnt take the F*%KING wireing harness. Now I'm wishing I had. *******!

I never even bothered to check the eighty fuse, so that's my next task. I dont think that it is the actual ignition switch, because I have two, and both do the same thing. From reading everyone else's posts I'm left to believe that it has to be either the main fuse (never bothered unbolting that one,) the wiring harness or some shot wireing somewhere, or just some shitty connection somewhere.

If it wasnt raining like crazy today I'd be out there right now checking. I'll post my progress later in the week.

Just so I'm completely sure, there is NOT a fusable link that I cant seem to find? It's just wire from the batt - starter - fusebox - ignition?

Thanks guys for the help!

hyc140532

well mine is still not doing anything. t pisses me off ard core. I am at the point right now of just selling the damn thing. Anybody want a 86 na no interior other then seats, door panels, dash board. Its got new raditor, water pump, dual alt puley, block off kit, battery, almost new tires, mazdarix oil cooler line (steal braided). 800 and it is yours. located in hampton, va.