Electrical Problems

Turk · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2001, 06:36 PM

Well everything was going fine, until I hooked up everything and turned the juice on.....

NOTHING!!!

I am NOT trying to turn the engine over, just trying to get the horn the lights etc to work.
1-Battery is charged.
2-There is current at selonoid terminal,
3-There is no power to anything else.

All connections were meticulosly made. (I think).

What is likely to have gone wrong?
What is the first thing to check?

Thanks guys.

TURK

Cobranut · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2001, 07:15 PM

Turk,

Just to state the obvious, this is a fiberglass car.
Did you run ground wires from the chassis to all components mounted on the body?

I hope it's something as simple as this.

Later,

Turk · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2001, 07:23 PM

Cobranut

I thought I did. Nothing under the dash will give me a indication with the continuitytester. I was thinking it is related to some ground connection also. Where to look, which one?

Besides, the car is fiberglass alright, but it has "metallic" paint!

TURK

Rich · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2001, 09:09 PM

This sounds like a ground problem or a miswired ignition switch. Do you have a schematic? Start at the chassis ground and work your way back. You might also double check the wiring at the amp gauge.

Good luck,
Rich

ArubaCobra · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2001, 09:15 PM

The guys at E R A probably purposely fixed your wiring system to get back at you for all the hassling you did to them while waiting for your car

Turk · #6 (**permalink**) 08-07-2001, 10:19 PM

I found out that I wired the battery and and the starter wires in reverse at the selonoid.

Now we have ignition.

No brake lights, no turn signals but much to my wife's dismay we have HORN!!!!!
There is nothing but body shop dust in the gas tank, it reads full! hmmmm!

We have foreigners taking pot shots at foreigners now. Greetings to our friend from Aruba.

TURK

Bob Putnam · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 05:26 AM

Turk,

I'll e-mail you with some troubleshooting hints. Do you have rear parking lights?

#8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 06:43 AM

CobraEd · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 07:29 AM

The Cobra was built off of and patterned after the AC Bristol, a 60's English car. As such you did remember to wire the thing with positive ground and a six volt system???

Ed

Turk · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 09:53 AM

BLACKJACK

My thoughts exactly. You are a man of few words, ain't you?

TURK

Turk · #11 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 09:56 AM

Cobra Ed
If starting off with a 6 months old battery with 50% capacity, and reversing the cables at the selonoid between the starter and the battery could be considered positive ground, then I did my best to keep my car period correct in every respect!!

TURK

#12 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 03:31 PM

HEY , TURK,

YEAH - - - I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING BUT BY THE TIME I SAT DOWN I FORGOT WHAT THE HELL IT WAS.

ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY BUT I WANTED THE "AUTOMATIC THREAD FOLLOWING" FEATURE TO WORK BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO SORT OUT SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY ERA.

HAVE A GREAT DAY,

JACK

Steve Dickey · #13 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 03:43 PM

Turk,
Try turning the key on.

Steve ****ey

Bill Wells · #14 (**permalink**) 08-08-2001, 07:06 PM

do you have lucas switches, the "prince of darkness", which only has 3 settings: dim, dimmer and off ! mostly off if NOS from the 60's (period correct, right?) ! at least mine work, 'most' of the time ! Bill.

Turk · #15 (**permalink**) 08-09-2001, 12:40 AM

I should know better than asking for help in here.

No thanks to you comedians, I think I got it figured out. It looks like I have the wiring harness coming out the steering hub prety well pinched inside the upper mounting blocks.

Time for some major splicing and repairs.

Oh well.

TURK

Jeff Burgy · #16 (**permalink**) 08-09-2001, 09:41 AM

Haah!

That'll teach you for trying to top off the battery with Raki! The stuff is just TOO STRONG for that application!

regards,

cobrajeff

Jim Holden · #17 (**permalink**) 08-10-2001, 12:46 PM

Turk:

"Act in haste, repent at leisure"

Again I warn you about the "Red Mist" blinding you against making mistakes...

(Of course I should talk. It generally reaches a point where I am not allowed by my construction assistants to work on my own car... they claim I can't "modulate" my hands or something like that; "with Holden it's on, off or broken" I usually get this stubby little wrench to work with. Ah well one must know their limitations).

Your car looks great and when that day comes when you finally roll it out, start it up and take that first gentle ride around the block, it will be a day you will remember for a long, long time.

Jim Holden

Turk · #18 (**permalink**) 08-10-2001, 01:11 PM

Jim Holden
That DAY is today or tomorrow at the latest.
Assistants standing by, fire extingueshers are handy. Neighbours are seen walkng by our house on the sidewalk across the street.
Hmmm. I wonder why that guy is wearing a Asbestos suit and has a garden hose in his hand.

Wait..Who called the fire department?

Have faith. At least you have friends who will do the work for you or won't let you work on your own cars.

I wished I had some. I exhausted them long time ago. I am down to a few strangers who happen to come over and ask a few questions, and end up holding a wrench or a tool of some sort for me. Then they leave and never come back again.

TURK