Car COMPLETELY died going into drive |
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Turbo301
Senior Member Joined: 11-March-2007 Location: London, Ontario Status: Offline Points: 331 |
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Posted: 22-June-2014 at 7:52AM |
So I started my 1977 XR7 to go for a drive today, and it
started and idled just fine. Backing out of my driveway, all was well; put it
into drive to go forward, and EVERYTHING died: car stalled, no dash lights, no
cabin light.
I pushed the car back into the driveway and checked the battery: 12.61 V, load test “OK” (according to my voltmeter, whatever that ‘s worth LOL). So, I have juice at the battery, but nothing going to the rest of the car. It sounds like an open-circuit somewhere, but what would cause that going from reverse to drive? I checked the main battery cables, and they seem okay... Any help would be most appreciated! I need to know where to at least start looking! |
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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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check your ground wires from the block to the body, check both positive and negative wires from the battery along the way to engine, to fuse box, to dash, to ignition switch,etc. sounds like a loose or corroded main connection somewhere
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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Turbo301
Senior Member Joined: 11-March-2007 Location: London, Ontario Status: Offline Points: 331 |
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The fact that not even the cabin light comes on suggests it shouldn't be the ignition switch; is that a fair assumption?
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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
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unlovedford
Senior Member Joined: 17-December-2010 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 10142 |
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My bet is the starter cable, solenoid cables, or a bad terminal.
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Joe
1972 Mom's Squire Wagon 1972 Torino Wagon 1976 Torino 1968 Cougar XR7-First batch 1972 Torino 460 1989 BroncoII/Jeeps/Titanimous Popeye and Brutus (Rams) |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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right, i meant check back from the battery till you find the problem, it sounds like it's a main connection somewhere. fusible link??? ground from block to body? corrosion inside battery terminal to the cable?
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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Regul8r
Admin Group Moderator Joined: 26-December-2007 Location: Sarasota FL Status: Offline Points: 6624 |
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Yeah, check the fusible link.
Verify the voltage at the cabin junction block from the main power wire. Then yup could be the ignition switch block, when you shifted it, something in the column shorted out? IF that happened it should have blown the fusible link so look for a CAUSE if the fusible link is bad. |
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Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME!
1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
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Turbo301
Senior Member Joined: 11-March-2007 Location: London, Ontario Status: Offline Points: 331 |
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Okay, good to know, thanks guys.
I read up a bit on the "fusible link" in the factory service manual, but I must admit I don't really know what I'm looking for; anyone have a picture or good description of where to find it? The main cables from the battery are newer (I put them on in 2011, I think) and look good, so I guess I'll have to start from there and work backwards. Ugh, I'm terrible at this type of diagnosis, but I really don't want to have to take her to a garage! |
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1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
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Regul8r
Admin Group Moderator Joined: 26-December-2007 Location: Sarasota FL Status: Offline Points: 6624 |
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the wires the net size down from the batter cables that attach to the solenoid.
Should have a big molded rubber block on it near the connection. check it along the wire back to the firewall to look for a break |
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Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME!
1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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they should be at the solenoid connected with the positive cable from the battery, they are a wire that has a 4" section molded to the rest of the wire ,that looks smaller than the rest of the wire, with a large rounded bump on the wire
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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normand
Senior Member Joined: 25-February-2008 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 203 |
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My fusible link burned out a week and a half ago. Similar where the car died without warning while driving down the road. I smelled a slight electrical burn as I pulled over and found the issue pretty quick. Now I need to find the cause.
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