posted 08-14-2022 05:21 PM                  

Single click (when trying to start)
No interior dash lights working
Fuse #10 looks to be intact and okay

New battery, battery connections look good!
Getting 12.9 volts to the positive pole on the starter.

At this point, I thought it was the solenoid on the starter so I went thru the agonizing process of removing the starter; it eventually did maneuver out underneath in the triangle between the catalytic converter (hypotenuse) and two angled aluminum body supports (the two other sides of a triangle)... I have pixs!

I then had the starter tested three times (at the same facility) and was told there is nothing wrong with the starter...

So I'm now thinking possibly the ignition switch or PCM?

How would I test the ignition switch? the PCM?

posted 08-15-2022 03:37 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by stevedymo:
Check Fuse 13 and 19 (10A) in driver's side dash.
Also check Fuse 13 (40A) in PDC.

Check the engine starter motor relay in the Power Distribution Center (PDC).

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Driver's side dash fuse 13 - okay
Driver's side dash fuse 19 - okay

PDC Fuse 13 (40amp Ignition SW) - okay

I also checked:
PDC Fuse 11 (40amp Ignition SW) - okay

For the PDC "engine starter motor relay" ... might you mean the EATX Relay (space #2)? If so, how might that be checked... do you ohm it out?

BTW: You need really small hands to get to the PDC... it's sandwiched (on the driver's side) between the brake fluid reservoir and the left engine body panel!

posted 08-15-2022 03:43 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Dick Henry:
When I engaged the ignition the starter would click then everything went dead. It was an intermittent problem.

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Yes, this happened to me and this seems to have been the final act... everything is now dead!

I pondered that since I was getting 12.9 volts to the positive pole on the starter that my battery terminal connections seemed good although they are old. So, I'm going to put on new positive and negative terminals before re-connecting to the new battery...

posted 08-16-2022 05:56 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Tomcal:
Use a replacement battery clamp as shown below.

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New gold battery terminal installed and connected... shouldn't my emergency flashers work at a minimum?

posted 08-16-2022 07:25 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Dick Henry:
Well you’ve eliminated that connection as being the problem. Now make sure the battery negative is properly grounded at the frame. When it comes to electrical issues I am definitely a novice. If it’s not a ground it’s a fuse or short somewhere. If your not getting any power to anything it’s either a ground or something between the battery & power distribution center. Just my guess. Others more knowledgeable will chime in I’m sure. Keep us informed as to your progress.

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First picture is the negative terminal connection to the new battery; a battery wire brush was used to clean the inside of the terminal before attaching it to the negative battery post.

Second picture is the other end of this negative wire; it measures about 12" in total length and connects to the frame... it looks good, feels tight with no corrosion evident.

The total lack of all electrical power everywhere (no headlights, no emergency flashers, no dash lights when the key is turned) has me bewildered... could it be something ignition switch related (eg. the switch itself, the actuator inside)?

I have NOT "ohmed out" any of the mentioned fuses... I carefully inspected them visually but maybe I need to ohm them out?

posted 08-17-2022 02:11 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by garysss:
Try adjusting steering wheel all the way up and down to see if anything changes. Maybe a pinched wire or bad connection somewhere.

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Okay, I tried that... no changes!

posted 08-17-2022 02:19 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by ed monahan:
FEEL the positive battery cable. The entire length. Some of them were rubbing on the edge of the battery and shorting out. You can't see it, you have to feel it since it is small and UNDER the wire, out of sight.

Please post when you solve this mystery, for future reference.

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Battery case is plastic and cannot short out to positive cable. Plastic is non-conductive.

However, check where positive cable goes under radiator and then to Power Distribution Center. Rubbing against metal near PDC has happened before to other users. This would be a short, but it doesn't appear to be a short in what you're describing.

Get rid of the old original negative able and replace with quality one. Just looking, touching cable and connection doesn't mean it's sound. Same with fuses. Check for Power on BOTH sides of fuses.

Let's start with the basic simple circuit tests.

Does the Horn work? does the Radio play? This will tell you if there's some power flowing to this relatively simple circuits.

With your meter, test from positive connection On PDC to ground. Should be 12-14 Volts. Main battery positive voltage going to DDC for distribution. Check to make sure battery cable is tightly secured to PDC positive post. Remove negative battery cable before tightening nut on PDC. You don't want to short something with your wrench.

posted 08-17-2022 04:45 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Tomcal:

Get rid of the old original negative able and replace with quality one. Just looking, touching cable and connection doesn't mean it's sound.

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Tomcal, you get the prize!!!

I have been perplexed for nearly 5 days now. Replacing the negative battery wire (all 12 inches of it) has remedied this problem. Obviously I looked right past this wire as a possible culprit more than a few times...

Even with this cable out and on the ground, it LQQKS okay, but IT IS NOT!

My horn, emergency flashers and dash lights (turning the key to the point right before starting the engine) now work. I am awaiting a new (not remanufactured) starter for installation since I went thru all that trouble to get out the old one... may as well install a brand new one! But I'm feeling pretty certain I will be back on the road in short order now...

Thanks to those who chimed in with suggestions... seems like it took a community of Prowlers to fix this problem!

posted 08-18-2022 04:51 PM                  

I have been perplexed for nearly 5 days now. Replacing the negative battery wire (all 12 inches of it) has remedied this problem. Obviously I looked right past this wire as a possible culprit more than a few times...

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Happy to be of assistance.

And thank-you for posting your results. So few do.