Electrical Problem--Need Help Fast!

Comatose · 05-06-2004, 09:33 PM

I was driving to work this morning and stopped to get coffee, I left my car running as I walked into the store, when I came out the car was dead--not running.

NOTHING electrical worked, one of the wires that comes from the hot side of the solenoid was burnt clean in two (not the battery cable). This wire goes from a single wire before the fusible link to two wires after, one yellow heading to the front of the car, one red heading to the rear of the car.

If I reconnect the wires, they burn themselve apart--dead short. In the short few seconds before they burn in two, everything works and the car will start. I've narrowed it down to the Yellow wire. Where does this wire go.

Any help will be greatly appreciated, my other vehicle gets 10mpg, at 2.20/gal, and 60miles a day driving, I need my car back.

ribsey80 · 05-06-2004, 11:10 PM

I had this happen to me once. I found it to be the starter kill on my car alarm. The wire was burnt really badly. All I did was disconnect the battery for about 10 minutes to reset the alarm and put a new wire in. It was fine after that. If you have an alarm , that may be it.

Capri306 · 05-06-2004, 11:29 PM

If it's the yellow wire that's larger than most of the other fusible links then it powers a LOT of things. I suspect you'll be wanting to invest in a circuit tester and start probing around. Check the library for a detailed schematic, then you can at least narrow it down. Have you performed any service on the vehicle lately? Did you get into an accident at all? Any of these things could've pinched a wire somewhere, or possibly one has an abrasion through the insulation somewhere and is shorting to ground. Have patience with it, and just keep narrowing it down methodically; peel back the wire looms to get a better idea of where it goes. It may help to disconnect things one at a time on the circuit to see what's causing it, or at least to isolate it, too. Happy hunting.

HISSIN50 · 05-07-2004, 01:48 AM

have you checked fuses? some of the links provide power to the given circuits. so if the fuse blew, it would give you an idea of what the wire powers.
i think on 87 on up cars, there is a yellow wire up there for the voltage regulation of the alternator. also, i think there is a yellow wire for the ignition and fuse 1.

good luck.

Comatose · 05-07-2004, 08:37 AM

No car alarm, the car has a clean title and hasn't had anything dramatic happen since I've had it. After work today I'm going to spend more time tracting it down. I've got a Chiltons, but it's wiring scematics suck, hell the whole book sucks.

I'm going to unplug the alternator tonight. When the wire burnt in two, the back of the alt. was very warm.

Thanks for the replies.

crazypete · 05-07-2004, 02:02 PM

Try the obvious step..... pull out all of the fuses. Replace the bit of wire that remelts immediatley. See if it melts again. If it does, you're in luck because that rules out a lot of systems. If not, you're also in luck. Put fuse by fuse back until you see the wire melt (actually the fuse will blow as you push it in). Then you know what system to chase down.

tmoss · 05-08-2004, 09:37 AM

There is a color wiring diagram of these curcuits in this thread...............

http://forums.mustangworks.com/showt...threadid=35028

Comatose · 05-08-2004, 09:57 AM

GOT IT!!!

It was the alternator.

Thanks for the help and the prompt replies.

05-06-2004, 09:33 PM	#1
Comatose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Goldendale, WA, USA Posts: 84	Electrical Problem--Need Help Fast! I was driving to work this morning and stopped to get coffee, I left my car running as I walked into the store, when I came out the car was dead--not running. NOTHING electrical worked, one of the wires that comes from the hot side of the solenoid was burnt clean in two (not the battery cable). This wire goes from a single wire before the fusible link to two wires after, one yellow heading to the front of the car, one red heading to the rear of the car. If I reconnect the wires, they burn themselve apart--dead short. In the short few seconds before they burn in two, everything works and the car will start. I've narrowed it down to the Yellow wire. Where does this wire go. Any help will be greatly appreciated, my other vehicle gets 10mpg, at 2.20/gal, and 60miles a day driving, I need my car back. __________________ Jeremiah 1986 Mustang GT K&N Filter, Removed Air Silencer, Black Magic Fan, 65mm Explorer TB, 110lph BBK Fuel Pump, F/M Force II Cat -Back, O/R h-pipe, U/D's Timing@14* 1986 Mustang LX SSP--new project car AOD, 3.27's, Dumps, 238k miles

05-06-2004, 11:29 PM	#3
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	If it's the yellow wire that's larger than most of the other fusible links then it powers a LOT of things. I suspect you'll be wanting to invest in a circuit tester and start probing around. Check the library for a detailed schematic, then you can at least narrow it down. Have you performed any service on the vehicle lately? Did you get into an accident at all? Any of these things could've pinched a wire somewhere, or possibly one has an abrasion through the insulation somewhere and is shorting to ground. Have patience with it, and just keep narrowing it down methodically; peel back the wire looms to get a better idea of where it goes. It may help to disconnect things one at a time on the circuit to see what's causing it, or at least to isolate it, too. Happy hunting. __________________ Capri306, Moderator The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri 1987 5.0L Mustang LX Notchback 1993 5.8L Eddie Bauer Bronco

05-07-2004, 08:37 AM	#5
Comatose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Goldendale, WA, USA Posts: 84	No car alarm, the car has a clean title and hasn't had anything dramatic happen since I've had it. After work today I'm going to spend more time tracting it down. I've got a Chiltons, but it's wiring scematics suck, hell the whole book sucks. I'm going to unplug the alternator tonight. When the wire burnt in two, the back of the alt. was very warm. Thanks for the replies. __________________ Jeremiah 1986 Mustang GT K&N Filter, Removed Air Silencer, Black Magic Fan, 65mm Explorer TB, 110lph BBK Fuel Pump, F/M Force II Cat -Back, O/R h-pipe, U/D's Timing@14* 1986 Mustang LX SSP--new project car AOD, 3.27's, Dumps, 238k miles

05-07-2004, 02:02 PM	#6
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	Try the obvious step..... pull out all of the fuses. Replace the bit of wire that remelts immediatley. See if it melts again. If it does, you're in luck because that rules out a lot of systems. If not, you're also in luck. Put fuse by fuse back until you see the wire melt (actually the fuse will blow as you push it in). Then you know what system to chase down. __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior

05-08-2004, 09:37 AM	#7
tmoss Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 634	There is a color wiring diagram of these curcuits in this thread............... http://forums.mustangworks.com/showt...threadid=35028 __________________ Tom (Torque) Moss 88Gt 5spd Vert, FLowmaster Catbacks, stock cam advanced 4° @ 108.5° ICL, NMRA prepped GT40P heads 1.85/1.55 valves and 1.7 rockers, MAC P headers Jet-Hot coated, 97 Exlporer intake (ported lower), TB and injectors. 277RWHP/330RWTQ (SAE). http://www.fastlanecars.com/

05-06-2004, 11:10 PM	#2
ribsey80 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: BC Posts: 4	I had this happen to me once. I found it to be the starter kill on my car alarm. The wire was burnt really badly. All I did was disconnect the battery for about 10 minutes to reset the alarm and put a new wire in. It was fine after that. If you have an alarm , that may be it.

05-07-2004, 01:48 AM	#4
HISSIN50 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 62	have you checked fuses? some of the links provide power to the given circuits. so if the fuse blew, it would give you an idea of what the wire powers. i think on 87 on up cars, there is a yellow wire up there for the voltage regulation of the alternator. also, i think there is a yellow wire for the ignition and fuse 1. good luck.

05-08-2004, 09:57 AM	#8
Comatose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Goldendale, WA, USA Posts: 84	GOT IT!!! It was the alternator. Thanks for the help and the prompt replies. __________________ Jeremiah 1986 Mustang GT K&N Filter, Removed Air Silencer, Black Magic Fan, 65mm Explorer TB, 110lph BBK Fuel Pump, F/M Force II Cat -Back, O/R h-pipe, U/D's Timing@14* 1986 Mustang LX SSP--new project car AOD, 3.27's, Dumps, 238k miles

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