Random electrical power loss
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 22
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From: Chicago, IL
Car: 1988 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 5.7/350
Transmission: 700r4
Random electrical power loss
So the other day i started the car and drove maybe 150ft before 100% of the electricity went out as if there were no battery in the car. The car started up perfectly fine and drove normally until all power went out. Ended up pushing the car back into the garage and then the next day when i opened the driver side door, the dome light came back on. I turned on the headlights and all power went out again. Yesterday the power returned and this time the headlights turned on without cutting off the electricity. So i grabbed my key and turned it. Fuel pump primed, when i went to crank the starter, all power cut off again. I got the car up on stands and checked the fusible links to the starter and didnt notice anything out of the ordinary there. They're intact and bolted onto the starter. The ground coming off the battery also has a good contact. I did discover that both grounds, one behind driver side head and one behind passenger side head were loose. I tightened both up and still have no electricity in the car. Anybody know what can be the issue?
Joined: Sep 2005
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Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Random electrical power loss
Sounds like a fusible link that has given up the ghost.
Check ALL the battery connections, both where the cables hook to the battery, and where they hook to the engine at the other end. You can check the voltage between the big post on the starter and the engine block to make sure the cables (and the batt itself) have continuity.
If that all checks out, it's probably a fusible link. They can go bad in ways that are not visible.
Check ALL the battery connections, both where the cables hook to the battery, and where they hook to the engine at the other end. You can check the voltage between the big post on the starter and the engine block to make sure the cables (and the batt itself) have continuity.
If that all checks out, it's probably a fusible link. They can go bad in ways that are not visible.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Car: 1988 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 5.7/350
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Random electrical power loss
The problem was in the fusible links. Thanks for the help
Sounds like a fusible link that has given up the ghost.
Check ALL the battery connections, both where the cables hook to the battery, and where they hook to the engine at the other end. You can check the voltage between the big post on the starter and the engine block to make sure the cables (and the batt itself) have continuity.
If that all checks out, it's probably a fusible link. They can go bad in ways that are not visible.
Check ALL the battery connections, both where the cables hook to the battery, and where they hook to the engine at the other end. You can check the voltage between the big post on the starter and the engine block to make sure the cables (and the batt itself) have continuity.
If that all checks out, it's probably a fusible link. They can go bad in ways that are not visible.
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