Electrical gremloins??

Cobradad · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 08:22 AM

Hi All. Been hanging around the site for a while, finally jumped in and bought Bill S.'s car right before Christmas 2010. You guys know these cars far better than I ever will, so here goes. Drove into work today, 31 miles. Turns signals quit on me and so did the cooling fan. Coincidence? Don't usually believe in that. Any usual suspects here? Thanks.

Rick Parker · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 08:52 AM

First check the fuses on the Firewall inside the engine compartment.

lovehamr · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 09:55 AM

"Gremloins" Is that like the loins of a gremlin? If so, how did they get in your car? Dja' hit one on the road?

Sorry, I know, I'm no help................

Cobradad · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 10:06 AM

You know, I hate it when people spell things wrong in their thread, so I looked it over before posting and as soon as I posted I saw it and said to myself, with this crowd, I'm toast. By the way, love your avatar.

scaffold · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 10:36 AM

kinda reminds me of the time Paul Harvey gave a news report about a guy that resisted arrest and the cops shot him in the fracas. Had thousands of people e-mail him wanting to know where was the fracas on the body

Bobcat · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 10:45 AM

You might check ERA`s website as I know they have an electrical primer/trouble shooting section . I just can`t remember if it`s in the section that is reserved for ERA owners ... which you now are ... congratulations !
You might also call Bob P. at ERA as he is the guy that designed the car and electrical system .... and tell you how to access that section , and can give you some ideas on what to look for .

Bob

strictlypersonl · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 12:03 PM

The signal lights, fan relay and the voltage regulator are on the same fuse. If your alternator is still charging, it's not the fuse. Otherwise, check the bottom fuse on the passenger's side.

I've e-mailed you the link to the private ERA section, with manuals and wiring diagrams.

mrmustang · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobradad

Hi All. Been hanging around the site for a while, finally jumped in and bought Bill S.'s car right before Christmas 2010. You guys know these cars far better than I ever will, so here goes. Drove into work today, 31 miles. Turns signals quit on me and so did the cooling fan. Coincidence? Don't usually believe in that. Any usual suspects here? Thanks.

Going to ramble a bit as I am short on sleep the last few days but not short on caffeine intake......Simplest thing I can think of, and I have to ask, did you check for a blown fuse? I never really had any electrical problems other than a blown headlight or tailight bulb. Did you change out the old radiator and fan for the new aluminum radiator and fan assembly,if so could you have a loose connection? Also, inside the fan box were two brand new (I assume stainless steel) fuse blocks I had planned to swap out for the old (I believe brass) ones (saw them on my friend Marc's new FIA early last year). If you have a humid garage perhaps the old fuse blocks have some minor corrosion, pull each fuse and clean the ends of them, then reinstall. If you want me to, I can swing down one weekend and assist however I can in troubleshooting.....Just let me know

Edit: before being sold (actually several months before) the car received a shiny new alternator and voltage regulator, so I doubt those are the culprit, but you never know.

Sincerely,

Bill S.

Cobradad · #9 (**permalink**) 05-16-2011, 10:02 AM

Thanks all. Bob sent me the link and I printed out the owners manual updated version. Fuse 4 was the culprit. Now if it would only stop raining I could get back to driving it.

James Stern · #10 (**permalink**) 05-16-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobradad

Thanks all. Bob sent me the link and I printed out the owners manual updated version. Fuse 4 was the culprit. Now if it would only stop raining I could get back to driving it.

Don't get me started about the rain

.

Jim S

Murky781 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-11-2011, 03:46 PM

My gremloins are fine, but the darn Gremlins are driving me nuts! Last week it was the magnetic pickup, Saturday it was the turn signal relay, today it won't turn over. Ran so well yesterday and purred along for a great one hour cruise. (I don't do 3 hr. cruises because I wind up on an island somewhere with a bunch wackos!)

This afternoon the wife and I jumped in and were ready to head out to a car show -- turned the key and nothing. Sounds like a dead short. Battery is charged, all lights, horns, signals work strong. Turn the key and just nothing. I did replace my ignition switch when I was chasing the mag. pickup and I'd rather not pull the dash again, but I'm getting pissed at the gremlins and about to solder the crap out of everything. If you've got some tricks for chasing this, please... thanks again

patrickt · #12 (**permalink**) 07-11-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murky781

(I don't do 3 hr. cruises because I wind up on an island somewhere with a bunch wackos!)

This afternoon the wife and I jumped in and were ready to head out to a car show -- turned the key and nothing. ... Battery is charged, all lights, horns, signals work strong. Turn the key and just nothing.

Well just sit right back and you'll hear a tale.... If you're turning the key on a fully charged battery and hear absolutely nothing then it's either the ignition switch, connections, or the starter solenoid that should be mounted on your firewall over the passenger side footbox (under the hood, not over the passenger's feet). Put it in neutral, with the key off, and put a jumper wire from the positive battery cable connection on the solenoid to the front left connection (on the front of the solenoid, farthest to the passenger side). It should crank. If it does, immediately go to the ignition switch and try and crank it. If it doesn't crank, then it's either the switch or the connections between the switch and the solenoid. If the jumper wire does not make it crank, whack the solenoid with the handle end of a screwdriver and try again. If it still does not crank, and does not even click or buzz, then replace the solenoid.

strictlypersonl · #13 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 06:06 AM

If you don't have a Volt-Ohm meter, please get one. The cheap ones are under $15. A quick check at the fuse box (notably at the passenger's side main connections) will tell a lot.

Murky781 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 12:02 PM

Thank you. I did the jumper and it only sparked a little. Gave it a decent rap with a screwdriver and tried again and it turned over. Gave the key a try and it's back working.I'm adding the jumper wire (8" of #10) to the car tool kit and try to remember what I did next time this happens. I'll replace the solenoid just to be sure.

patrickt · #15 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 12:19 PM

Well let me then take this opportunity to irritate my good frienemy ERAChas. Yes Chas, this one was solved while lounging by the pool with my Blackberry... which is what I'm doing now by the way.

RodKnock · #16 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yes Chas, this one was solved while lounging by the pool with my Blackberry... which is what I'm doing now by the way.

Was the pool near an oyster bed?

snakebitekit · #17 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well let me then take this opportunity to irritate my good frienemy ERAChas. Yes Chas, this one was solved while lounging by the pool with my Blackberry... which is what I'm doing now by the way.

Love it!!!

DonC · #18 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011, 08:32 AM

Since a rap with the screwdriver cured/identified your problem why not just spend the 15 or 20 bucks at NAPA and replace the solenoid so you'll minimize the chance of it happening again. If it's already stuck once on you the next time it may fail completely. To me, the sticking indicates a potential problem down the road. When it comes to inexpensive replacements I'll go with new any time. Just my $.02.
DonC

Murky781 · #19 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011, 03:46 PM

Thanks Don, I have replaced it and even put a spare on the shelf. Pat had suggested that in a private message and I thought it was the wise thing to do also. I may have assembled my car, but not having turned a wrench in 40 years I'm still working on that steep learning curve of what I created.
All of you on here are a great help and I'm even keeping a book that has a symptoms/fix list. Seems like the gremlins come in threes on my car and does it seem like they run so perfectly just before they crap out?

Thanks for the help

patrickt · #20 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Was the pool near an oyster bed?

Since I've been so hard on ol' Chas, I'll spring for the oysters for everyone....