I am getting frustrated with the wiring on my 1991 Firebird...

When I bought the car, the previous owner had jury rigged the headlights to connect straight to the battery. So I was assuming the headlight switch was bad, so I went and picked up a used one from a 1989 Olds Cutlass. Well, I pulled apart my dash, went ahead and put in the new switch and I went ahead and put in the dimmer as well, 'cause the black looked better than the grey IMHO. So I hooked back up the stock wiring to the headlights, and pushed the switch, and............yeah, nothing. The turn signals flash, and the brake lights come on, but no parking lights, and no headlights. (Well the high mounted brake light doesn't come on, but I think it just has a burnt out bulb) I haven't really gotten a chance to trouble shoot that any farther, I checked the wiring is all hooked up to the switches, etc.

Also, barely anything works on the interior of the car. My power Door Locks, the Dome light, The map lights on the rearview mirrior, the Cigarette lighter, and the horn (which isn't the interior, I know) all are a No Go. The rear defrost works, and the radio works, and my power windows.

I checked my fuses, well the ones that I could check,all except the big metal 30amp ones, I don't know if they work, so I might go pick up a couple spares and see.

Also All I have is a test light, the one where you hook the clip to positive, put the probe on negative, and ooooooo little light comes on.

So basically I am coming to you, the more experienced of TGO, to help me not have to tear this entire car apart, and trace every wire, because I'm hoping it is something simple.........

 

You can get a relatively inexpensive digital voltmeter/multimeter for less than $20. It would be worthwhile.

There is a 20A "ACC" fuse that protect most of the circuits and devices you have mentioned. Check that and the connections at the accessory distribution block. That circuit is for:

1. Horn
2. Hatch release
3. Courtesy lamps
4. Reading lamps
5. Clock
6. Power antenna
7. Lighter

The "metal fuses" are actually thermal circuit breakers that should reset themselves after cooling. The "PWR ACC" breaker protects the door locks, but the pilot/control power for the door lock relays is also on the ACC circuit. The windows work because they are protected by the WDO circuit breaker. There should also be a circuit breaker for the headlights/lighting. Incidentally, those should be 35A, not 30A.

You need to verify 12VDC at the distribution block before proceeding. A test lamp may help, but a meter is best.

 

I think I have narrowed down my problem with the headlights to the fusible link. I connected a wire from the battery straight to the headlight switch and one of my headlights came on. I don't know why only one came on, but I will tackle that after I replace this fusible link.

I think i read somewhere on TGO that Fusible link A, the one with the headlights, is also responsible for my ACC fuse? Maybe? I'm not getting a light off of the ACC terminal, so somewhere I am not getting power. And could it also have something to do with the high mounted brake light? Because the light isn't blown like I had hoped.

I just want to be able to get this wiring worked out before I work on replacing my bent spindle.......

This car'll be a project, but it'll be worth it when it's done

 

Well I ran a fused wire from the battery to the headlight switch, put the switch in, and pressed the headlight button. The headlights come on, but here's what's wrong now:

1) The alarm that tells you that the headlights are on, but the doors open doesn't come on.

2)Still nothing from my ACC fuse

3)No parking lights

4)the fog light switch doesn't light up when pushed

5)The headlight motors don't make any noise, no clicks no moving nothing.....


Well, when I jumped the fusible link straight to the battery, the fog light switch lit up and the parking lights came on. They don't Now. The wiring diagram I have shows that power for all these things flows through the headlight switch. So what is going on with this?? They worked before, but not now?? Does the fusible link run to something else before it runs to the headlight switch??

What is wrong with this thing now? I can't really do anything else on the car until I get this wiring straightened out. PLEASE HELP!!!