Headlights, Interior Lights and more are all OUT -- What's happening here?

I'm puzzled by this electrical problem: All of the following spontaneously went out: headlights (don't rise and dont turn on), taillights, & parking lights, all interior (courtesy lights), instrument lights, power mirrors, and horn.
All the other electrical works. (But not sure about the cig lighter -- it doesnt work, but the outlet seemed dead the last time I checked months ago.)
Obviously, the first thing I did was check all the fuses and they're all fine. I tested the voltage coming into the suspect fuses and they are getting 12v and, for instance, the headlight switch is getting 12v. So I'm somewhat stumped. What do all these things have in common and any idea what the cause is? My latest theory is maybe it could be a fusable link (something I never heard of before I started studying the shop manual yesterday). So please I would appreciate some help and maybe someone can explain how the fusable link could take all this out -- or give me some other explanation. I'm running out of ideas here.........

 

Did you visually check the fuses, or electrically? Visual isn't always accurate, I don't care how good your vison is.

The fusable links are used on the postitve battery cables. They are your last line of defense against catastrophic meltdown when the electricals go wrong. They are easy to find...just look for what looks like a short vaccum line around the wire about 6 inches or so from the battery.

They are a product of the devil, and really deserve there own spot in hell. However, they can save your car, so I wouldn't just bypass them without installing some other saftey "fuse". Unless you like cars on fire. After 20+ years, these links can become corroded and basically just fall apart, which is why they are usually suspect when major electrical failures occur out of nowhere.

That said, I lost a fusable link when my coil lead shorted to my open-element air filter. Car wouldn't start and no electricals worked. I've also shorted the radio 12V line before, and I lost ALL interior lighting...gauges, dome, etc. That was two fuses blown for one mistake.

Good 'ol hunting though the schematics of your paricular vehicle is going to be your best bet IMO. Try EVERY electrical circuit and write down which ones are affected. Then you can work your way through the schematics with some sort of order.

 

Yes, I didnt just look at the fuses, I switched out the suspect fuses for new ones.

 

It looks like my fusable links are by the starter. And why would I want to bypass them? -- Wouldn't I just replace them? And would a bad fusable link explain ALL those things going out?

 

Yes.

Crawl under the car and take a look. There should be two fusible links off the starter that all of the power to the car goes through. Take a test light with you and see if you have 12V after the links.

 

Just making sure. There are some people that post here with some pretty bad/lazy ideas. I wouldn't replace them with the same thing, else eventually the same thing will happen again. I'd splice in a circuit breaker, or at least a blade-type fuse. Makes future replacement a breeze.

By the way...it's not impossible that you may have an intermittant short-to-ground somewhere. If it happens again soon, I wouldn't just keep replacing the fuse. Again, just making sure.

 

Thanks for the info. I was just calling around to find a fusable link and they dont make it easy. (The woman at the Autozone I just called said "Huh, you're looking for what? A usable link?")
Looking at the shop manual I believe the Fusable Link A coming from the starter may be the bad one. And it doesnt really tell you much about it -- it just implies its a 1 mm (16 gauge). Is that how you buy it? by gauge -- not amp rating? Anyone know the exact fusable link spec for this?

Also, I was searching the forums for anything about strange electrical problems (lights, dome gonig out) and someone mentioned the dimmer switch could be the cause -- know anything about that?

 

There should be 2 fusible links, one 14 gauge and one 16 gauge. They sell them in the HELP section of your local Vatozone. IF it is your problem, replace them both. You want to buy the ones with the ring on one end, and solder them in and use shrink wrap so you won't have to deal with it for another 15-20 years.

The only way to know if it's your problem is to crawl under the car with a voltmeter or test light and check it out.

 

Ok, I did take a look and it was NOT the fusable links. It turned out to be the the giant plug in the engine compartment that plugs into the firewall by the steering column and carries all the wires into the interior. I unplugged it and then plugged it back in a few times and that did the trick. Ain't electrical problems fun?
Thanks for your help and now, at least, I know what fusable links are.