Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 22, 2015, 04:17:21 pm
here are some pics I took of wires that are either burnt, frayed or unplugged can anyone please help
the plugs are under the drivers side dash
the rest are near the battery going into some type block or what looks like an old ford selonid
http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/jeff_wilson9/embed/slideshow/ (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/jeff_wilson9/embed/slideshow/)
Post by: Fierofool on July 22, 2015, 05:49:55 pm
Probably working from the front, replacing burned and jumpered wires first would allow finishing up the ones around the C500 without fear of causing damage, again.
The club has a set of 85, 86 and 87 GM Factory Service Manuals that we have offered for sale. I think we could loan them to you, but you would need to be very careful about soiling them. All the pages are still clean without stains. Between the 3 books, there's lots of coverage of the wiring, with diagrams of individual wires and also of whole harnesses and how they install.
In order to participate in our Loaner Tool Program, you must be a paid member. The Tool Shed section is currently hidden from you as a non-paid member. You can read about paid member benefits here: http://www.gafiero.org/bbs/index.php?topic=467.0
We would require a refundable deposit of $100 for the set of 3 books, should you wish to borrow them after paying membership dues.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 22, 2015, 06:12:49 pm
I have an old chiltons (sp) from back when I had my others.
I put it up because I had always planned on getting another.
I Have to get up to the storage shed at a relatives home.
H have several odds and ends stored there in good airtight containers.
If I can not find them I will be more than happy to pay the member fee and deposit (was planning on payine member fee later anyway if I keep the car and see no reason not to at this time.)
I am not as young and full of energy as I was back in the 90s so I work a bot slower hitt9ng one issue at a time.
Post by: Fierofool on July 22, 2015, 06:35:28 pm
I also have the Chilton's equivalent to the Haynes Manual before me and I can't find any wiring diagrams in it. Hope yours is the bigger version. But we're here to help if we can. I'm not an electronics guy, so maybe someone else can assist.
Post by: Roger on July 22, 2015, 07:15:18 pm
Obtain a Digital Multi-Meter. You will use this to check continuities and voltage.
Voltage of course after you have checked for shorts and re-connected the battery.
I recommend that you start at that yellow crimp connector someone used to replace the fusable link.
My first guess is that whatever that line powers will reveal your problem. It's a good place to start.
At this time, don't plug anything else into a circuit.
Keep us informed of what you find or need.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 22, 2015, 07:20:20 pm
I am considering finding a c500 with the wiring snipped enough that I can cut my old wires and do a good soldering job and reconnect them all one at a time.
As bad as the wiring is I am surprised it runs as good as it does
Anyone with a parts car with the c500 Please contact me.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 22, 2015, 07:30:05 pm
FIRST...disconnect the ground wire coming from the battery.
Obtain a Digital Multi-Meter. You will use this to check continuities and voltage.
Voltage of course after you have checked for shorts and re-connected the battery.
I recommend that you start at that yellow crimp connector someone used to replace the fusable link.
My first guess is that whatever that line powers will reveal your problem. It's a good place to start.
At this time, don't plug anything else into a circuit.
Keep us informed of what you find or need.
Thanks for the advice. Will do starting in the morning. It is not a daily driver for me just something to remind me of all the fun I had back in the 80's and 90's meeting, then going on dates, with the lady whom is now my wife.
Driving old back roads I used to drive back then is like being in a time machine. I even have a few of my old Cassette tapes that play great in the OEM radio. Guns and Roses, Bad Company, Bon Jovi, Reo Speedwagon, and my prized possession As much as I hate to admit it A Personally autographed Tiffany tape with a pic of me with her signing it.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 23, 2015, 06:25:49 pm
I was going to remove crimp splices and solder in a couple inches of wire to each one then cover it all with shrink wrap.
I removed the Black box (c500) and unplugged the harness. The wire bundle that goes towards the front only had 2 splices so they are not as big a problem as the one that hoes back into the engine compartment. Some of those splices may have a quarter inch of useable wire to work with. I think my best bet is to find a parts car that someone is willing to cut the harness along with the distribution box and leave enough wire for me to splice it into mine correctly and replace the whole thing. Whomever spliced it used the cheap connectors and did not put shrink wrap or even electrical tape to protect it from moisture and the corroded pretty bad.
Post by: Fierofool on July 23, 2015, 06:59:05 pm
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 23, 2015, 08:59:08 pm
it is an auto.
you guys are great.
I would love to know why anyone would hack a wiring harness like that and then not even try and make the splices watertight.
I am amazed how good it ran with the wires like that.
I drove her from east of Knoxville to spartinburg SC then back to TN and then 2 days later i drove it to asheville NC averaged 33MPG and that is across the mountain and some hard spirited driving. I will not say it hit 120MPH because that would be speeding but i have NO doubt it would if I wanted it to. ;D
Post by: Fierofool on July 23, 2015, 09:30:20 pm
I believe the 86 SE had the complete chassis harness going into the cabin from the C500. TopNotch might know since he pulled the engine from the car.
Post by: Raydar on July 23, 2015, 10:11:46 pm
The wires that connect to the power distribution block are fusible links. It is generally NOT recommended to solder replacements. The solder can "wick" through the wire and increase the current rating (and make it less effective at preventing a fire.) Better to crimp the connections and then cover with heat shrinkable tubing.
I figure that people "ghetto rig" wiring because they are just trying to get something to work. They will always be able to "tidy it up" later on, once their field fix has been proven. Usually, they never do.
Post by: f85gtron on July 23, 2015, 10:13:50 pm
Edited to add a smiley Winkey. ;)
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 23, 2015, 11:14:19 pm
I was going to help this guy, but then he referenced a signed tiffany cassette and I'm out. I only do Debbie Gibson. Sorry
Edited to add a smiley Winkey. ;)
LOL,
I met Tiffany at a small place in Nashville that has live bands on weekends a few years ago and sat in the same booth as her and her husband and chatted for a few hours. They then announced they had a special treat later on Tiffany would be singing later on. I then started talking about how I liked her back in the 80's and that I wish I had my old cassette so I could get her to sign it. Talk about red-faced the lady excused herself for a few minutes. Then the Guy announced Tiffany would be next on stage. the woman I was sitting talking to telling about how much I liked her in the 80's stepped on stage. Before she started her 1st song she came to the table and smiled real big and handed me the tape. It was her personal tape she just happened to have in her car.
Man she has changed alot in 30 years. Still has a great voice though.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 23, 2015, 11:15:33 pm
I was going to help this guy, but then he referenced a signed tiffany cassette and I'm out. I only do Debbie Gibson. Sorry
Edited to add a smiley Winkey. ;)
she prefers Debra now.
Post by: Roger on July 24, 2015, 10:28:28 pm
Never ever ever ever crimp a connection and leave it. It will go bad exactly when you don't need it to. Solder is the best and ONLY way to make a reliable connection.
I always spread a little bit of RTV over the connection and then slide the heat shrink over it. Some is going to ooze out but just wipe that off. Your connection is now waterproof!
And don't even think about using electrical tape around the engine.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 25, 2015, 12:33:04 am
I was checking some connections and a few fell apart and one shorted out and sparked
I then removed the battery and got a good look.
It appears that the harness from the back is from one car he c500 from another and the harness going forwards is possibly from another. The wire colors from the two harnesses are mostly the same colors but the box is definetly not and after removing it is found it he been very hot at some time close to burning. If I can not find a box I think I can use a fuse box that I have that is a spare for my vette.
It will require the service manuals so I will be able to trace down each circuit.
My altenator is also going to need replaced Has anyone had an own rebuilt and converted to a one wire do that it does not have to rely on the car ECM to keep it charged.
The one on my 98 vette has been that way for years with no issues.
All splices will be soldered and double shrink wrapped
Post by: f85gtron on July 25, 2015, 10:32:49 am
The only problem you'll have is not having an idiot light.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 25, 2015, 02:53:35 pm
If you can read both ends of the ex-fusible link let us know. I have spares and may have the one you need. I'll even send you some heat shrink with it.
Never ever ever ever crimp a connection and leave it. It will go bad exactly when you don't need it to. Solder is the best and ONLY way to make a reliable connection.
I always spread a little bit of RTV over the connection and then slide the heat shrink over it. Some is going to ooze out but just wipe that off. Your connection is now waterproof!
And don't even think about using electrical tape around the engine.
Thanks, I will let you know.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 25, 2015, 03:04:04 pm
He is going to send me pictures of what he has so hopefully it will match up with mine since they are both 86SE's with automatic transmissions.
I knew when I bought it that the wiring had was bad , I just did nit know how bad. Had I looked closer under the dash and saw that someone actually used a light switch from a house to activate the cooling fan. I doubt I would have bought it.
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 25, 2015, 03:11:25 pm
It shouldn't be any problem convert to a one wire alt. The small guage wire is just for the warning light anyway, although, it is important to the original alternator, in that, that write also is used as the sensor wire.
The only problem you'll have is not having an idiot light.
I can live with no light, I plan on adding the GT style gauge pod at some time plus my radar detector is one of the Cobra made to integrate with a smart Phone that connects to a cobra APP on the phone and one of the available screens shows car voltage and speed.
Post by: Roger on July 25, 2015, 07:42:19 pm
Post by: jeffwilson34 on July 26, 2015, 11:53:20 pm
I cut the wires back to where they were copper colored and not black. Then I used the jumpers to connect the ones I knew for sure were correct.
The exterior lights as well as dash lights work. The engine started (still had to start it with a 12v jumper to the selonid it has never worked from the switch) and it ran smother than it had before, when it warmed the idle dropped like it was supposed to. Heater works fine (no ac compressor)
What did not work was any of the gauges nor idiot lights. The radio did not work but by supplying power to the radio fuse it did work. The alternator which I thought was bad because it was only showing 12.1 volts at most and the battery light would glow from dim to bright before now worked fine and showed 13.2 Volts. I have several wires I am bit sure about and lots of them seem to be green.
I an getting a c500 and one plug from parts car that tha driver has It is also an 86se auto. After I get it and get what I am sure about working and properly wired I will start working on the other things.
for not it is sitting with the battery out, but it could be made to run if needed for an emergency.
At one point I was so aggravated I started to sell it to a guy that ask about it and offered me $1000
I knew that it had wiring issues when I bought it, I just did not know how bad till I started repairing it.
Post by: f85gtron on July 27, 2015, 12:16:18 am
Post by: Fierofool on July 27, 2015, 09:15:42 am
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Post by: GrannyLinda on July 27, 2015, 11:40:54 am