It's dead.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
It's dead.
I just bought a 1989 Formula Firebird with a 5.7. There were minor cosmetic things with it but all aesthetic. A few days ago I was removing the center console to clean the thing out and I saw two wires that seemed to be wrapped around the center bar that holds the console down. The wires were soldered in to the wiring harness at the power window switches and I had no other way to remove them other than cutting them. When I cut them I heard a pop by the fuse box. It gave me a bad feeling and I tried to start the car with no luck. It looks like the two wires were part of some aftermarket alarm system. I will try to post pics soon. However until then I just want to get my car started.
Symptoms
1. Car won't start (won't crank or anything)
2. Guages don't light up.
Things I know
1. The battery is fully charged and has been checked out.
2. All of the fuses have been checked.
3. When I put the key in it sometimes makes the humming sound associated with a key being in the ignition.
4. I resoldered the wires together.
Are there any suggestions?
Symptoms
1. Car won't start (won't crank or anything)
2. Guages don't light up.
Things I know
1. The battery is fully charged and has been checked out.
2. All of the fuses have been checked.
3. When I put the key in it sometimes makes the humming sound associated with a key being in the ignition.
4. I resoldered the wires together.
Are there any suggestions?
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 3
From: Arab, Alabama
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: It's dead.
Nothing like the fun of working on a car that has had the wiring hacked by the installation of a stupid car alarm. (can you tell that I hate car alarms?)
Anyway, there is a fuse link that comes off of the starter that powers the 2 heavy red wires that go into the ignition switch (located on top of the middle of the steering column). There is an open circuit between the starter and the 2 terminals on the ignition switch.
If you are sure that you heard the pop by the fuse panel and not from under the car, your problem will probably be the hacking done where the wires go into the ignition switch.
If not, then the fuse link coming off of the starter is blown.
If you find a big nest of wires leading to a car alarm, "uninstall" it. It will not keep your car from being broken into or stolen and will cause endless headaches.
Go down to your local car audio dealer and get a nice "Viper Car Alarm" window sticker instead.
Anyway, there is a fuse link that comes off of the starter that powers the 2 heavy red wires that go into the ignition switch (located on top of the middle of the steering column). There is an open circuit between the starter and the 2 terminals on the ignition switch.
If you are sure that you heard the pop by the fuse panel and not from under the car, your problem will probably be the hacking done where the wires go into the ignition switch.
If not, then the fuse link coming off of the starter is blown.
If you find a big nest of wires leading to a car alarm, "uninstall" it. It will not keep your car from being broken into or stolen and will cause endless headaches.
Go down to your local car audio dealer and get a nice "Viper Car Alarm" window sticker instead.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post