ok. the past week my car sometimes decided it wouldnt turn over. had radio windows hatch etc. but no guages and it wouldnt turn over. so... i replaced the ignition relay switch on top of the coloumn and now i dont get ANY power. my windows wont roll down my radio wont even come on and it still wont turn over. i tried to put my old switch back in to see if i could get power then.... still nothing. been working on it all afternoon and very frustrated. help is appreciated. its an 84 so i know it doesnt have vats thanx mitch

 

1st up
Have you got power going TO the Ign switch
Might have blown a fuse(s) or fusible link

 

thanx for replying so quickly. as a matter of fact i was just thinking about that. which fuse would be leading to the switch and would it be in the fuse block with the rest of the fuses? i dont even know how to use an ohm meter so that is out of the question. by the way i already check the connection to the battery and its good. i can still turn headlights on and pop the hatch. but no windows gauges etc.

 

But they don't run through the Ign switch.
Circuit diagram for '84 car shows a fusible link on the power wire to the Ign switch ;link is located on the wire coming off the starter motor terminal.( usually heavy red wire )

http://www.austinthirdgen.org/mkport...ine_wiring.gif

http://www.austinthirdgen.org/mkport..._continued.gif

 

ok. heres what i found. i looked at the starter and there was a red wire under there that wasnt conneceted. i tried to connect it to where i saw another broken wire that runs to the + terminal to the battery and the wire became really hot and emmited a few sparks. am i not hooking it up correctly?

 

i wonder if the wire is naked in side the metal protective tube that the wires run through.

 

ok so i pulled out the wires and tried to connect it to the positive and its still shooting sparks. im pretty sure im hooking it up right

 

ok i tried connecting it again w/ smoke. then i touched the positive to the little wire on the starter and heard a click. then i touched the two positive wires on the starter to the positive terminal and everything kicked on. im gonna put everything back together and then ill let you know. thanx for your help so far

 

ok man i mustve found the sweet spot. shes back running like a champ again. i hope it doesnt short out inside the harness but for now she running. i appreciate your help and sorry for posting so much. this is my last reply i promise.

 

If that wire got really hot and was sparking and smoking, it was probably grounded on something. Id check the full length of that wire and see if the insulation is burnt off/broken somewhere and making contact with something to ground it.