I NEED HELP!
Two nights ago, while driving slow in town, my AM radio started to make an awful scratch noise, followed by the engine quitting, and no power to the ignition switch, power windows, flashers, or guages/idiot lights. The horn worked, there was interior lights. After getting the car towed home, the alternator had a heavy elect. smell. I swapped the battery with no difference. I noticed that the Tach was pointing straight down.

I changed the alternator under warranty with no change. I looked at the fusible links at the starter as they went into the main wires (there are two) and one was weak and broke as I touched it. I crimped in another and as soon as I turned on the ignition, It smoked and broke at the repair.

Where do I go from here? Do you have any trouble shooting tricks for me to try?

John in Sulphur, LA.

 

The fact that the horn & interior lights work shows that the fusible link that powers the ACCY fuse & light switch, etc. is OK. The other fusible link powers the blower high speed relay, ignition switch, stop hazzard fuse, and power accy circuit breaker. You will have to find where the short is in either the line from the starter to the fire wall bulk head connector, or on the inside from the bulk head connector to the loads mentioned above. If I had to guess, I'd start looking in the engine compartment....

Take a look at the schematics at http://www.geocities.com/vtcamaro/Wire-Diagrams.html

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Tim

1992 Z28, 305 TPI 5 speed, 12.1 sec @ 114.7 mph

1984 Berlinetta 305 TPI Auto, 13.8 sec @ 99.7 mph

 

Thanks a million for the links to all those wiring diagram! I have a lot of looking ahead for me, for sure! Any pointers would be appreciated.

 

sounds like you have a short somewhere, i had a similar issue once and it turned out to be a coin in my cig. lighter. check the obvious first, then fuses, then the diagrams as a guide.

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'86WS7
Ram Air...
*EiyseWhite*

 

What to Type Emotion Graphic That Will Appear

You are looking at one happy fellow! I visited my friend at the Pontiac parts counter and he gave me the right size fusible link. I then put the car on ramps so I had plenty of room to do a good splice. I changed all three fusible links, wrapped them tight with elect. tape and put a real good insulation around them. SUCCESS!
I would highly recommend every 84 2.8 owner to look at his wires coming off the starter. They are tooooo important to be just dangling next to the exhaust pipe.

John