electrical problem..where to start?
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electrical problem..where to start?
Not sure if this is the right forum to post this question.
I am new to this forum but am a regular at nastyz28.com and this question pertains to a 3rd gen firebird.
I picked up a 1986 Firebird. The owner said "you will have to jump the car, the battery is always dead" So I figure the alternator was shot and that would be easy enough to rebuild when I brought it home.
So I pop in a new battery, went to turn on the headlight to see if the battery was working and the check engine light was on. Hummm, on without the key in the ignition.
I think I found my source of the dead battery problem the owner was talking about.
Well maybe not the source but I sure it is not the alternator.
Any ideas where I should start looking for this problem. I know electrical problems are a PITA.
Ideas anyone!
I am new to this forum but am a regular at nastyz28.com and this question pertains to a 3rd gen firebird.
I picked up a 1986 Firebird. The owner said "you will have to jump the car, the battery is always dead" So I figure the alternator was shot and that would be easy enough to rebuild when I brought it home.
So I pop in a new battery, went to turn on the headlight to see if the battery was working and the check engine light was on. Hummm, on without the key in the ignition.
I think I found my source of the dead battery problem the owner was talking about.
Well maybe not the source but I sure it is not the alternator.
Any ideas where I should start looking for this problem. I know electrical problems are a PITA.
Ideas anyone!
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From: Wittman,Az
Car: 86 IROC-Z, '71 RS
Engine: 305 TPI/ 350
Transmission: 700R4/TH350
Re: electrical problem..where to start?
One question, if your "key in ignition" chime is on without the keys in ignition, with the door open..... I think its the ignition switch too...
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Re: electrical problem..where to start?
Thanks for the the responses...
There is no "chime" sound, but it looks like all other systems are powered without key in the ignition.
The turn signals will work, power windows will work etc, all without the key in the ignition.
There is no "chime" sound, but it looks like all other systems are powered without key in the ignition.
The turn signals will work, power windows will work etc, all without the key in the ignition.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 73
From: Lexington, SC
Car: 1987 SC/1985 TA
Engine: 350/vortec/fitech
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9-bolt
Re: electrical problem..where to start?
It's not too hard to imagine that a previous owner pulled the wire on the 'chime' for the key in the ignition instead of properly repairing the problem. It's also possible that a bad/faulty accessory/ignition switch was 'repaired' by providing permanent 12V to the fuse panel.
The power-on/accessory is controlled by a switch that is actually lower in the column and is engaged by the ignition cylinder through a rod/cam. The key warning buzzer is activated by a spring at the key cylinder. Changing your ignition cylinder may not fix the problem if it's actually in the switch.
I'd check the fuse panel and under the hush panel for 'extra' stuff. There's also a thread here somewhere:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ck#post3451256
on pulling the column apart to get to the cylinder.
The power-on/accessory is controlled by a switch that is actually lower in the column and is engaged by the ignition cylinder through a rod/cam. The key warning buzzer is activated by a spring at the key cylinder. Changing your ignition cylinder may not fix the problem if it's actually in the switch.
I'd check the fuse panel and under the hush panel for 'extra' stuff. There's also a thread here somewhere:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ck#post3451256
on pulling the column apart to get to the cylinder.
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