| Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue | |
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+3GasTT toomanytoyz Ironfistdog 7 posters |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:21 pm | |
| So I've been having this issue with the wagon for like 3 weeks now. I THOUGHT I knew what it was but I replaced that and it's still doing it,
Here's the symptom: While driving every so often mostly over bumps the speedo needle bounces/ jumps, the ABS-low gas-check engine-oil or any combination of warning lights flash and the radio makes a "thump" through the speakers.
What I thought it was:
Power distribution box inside engine compartment was held together with duct tape and the main 8 gauge power wire was wrapped up like a mummy in electrical tape.
When I took it apart I replaced the stud AND the metal holders for the main body fuses. I did notice the other two wires coming off the side looked a little burned, but I assume it's from the stud arcing. I filed and wire brushed all connections. So maybe it wasn't this? Maybe the burned wires need new crimps? Am I barking up the wrong tree?
Does it sound like a ground problem?
Also noticed since installing the electronic flasher that the speedo needle ticks a little with the flashing... Related or just something that happens? Oh and when the main "problem" happens at night with headlights on I notice some slight dimming on and off with the headlights.
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sat Nov 17, 2012 7:29 pm | |
| You have bad ground(s) somewhere. | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sat Nov 17, 2012 7:50 pm | |
| Any particular one I should start start on? Coil? Head ground strap? Or aomthing specific on that circuit?
I did notice the aftermarket radio ground wire was a little loose in the harness (cd player side) you think that could cause mayhem in the whole car? Or it's just a coincidence? | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:59 pm | |
| Take a look at some ground distribution charts to try and track it down. | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:06 pm | |
| I actually just talked the original owner of the car (and I mean the guy I bought it from bought it new so ORIGINAL!) and he said that distribution block was causing the lights to flicker and the car would also just die. But I'm still for the ground idea. I know I've done a ton to modify the car, but by him saying he had the problem too shows it's nothing I did directly to cause the problem. I'm planning to go forward with the FWB front clip like I originally wanted once I start cutting up the black car. When I do that I plan to replace the entire engine harness with the one from the dggm car. but for now I'll do some snooping in the usual places. | |
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silverfox103
Posts : 1540 Join date : 2009-01-25 Age : 29 Location : Littleton, NH & St. Simons Island, GA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:35 am | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 8:24 am | |
| - silverfox103 wrote:
- Auxiliary Battery Post
He said he already replaced that though. I thought the same thing at first. | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 9:37 am | |
| Yeah but there were 2 wires coming off the side that were green with corrosion and looked severly burned, I only wire brushed them. There could be damage to the wires that I didn't see. It's very tight there. I'm gonna cut the wires Today and replace the connectors. | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 1:17 pm | |
| Good call Tom. Make sure the nut is tight on that aux post. The nut on my Caprice was loose and it kept going dead while driving down the street. Drove me absolutely crazy one night. I even had it towed and put a new battery in it for nothing. | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 3:40 pm | |
| No definitely NOT that auxiliary post that was what I did before writing out the thread. I replaced everything there.
Just replaced a broken head to firewall groud strap and also found the fender to battery ground had melted the coolant bucket and was loose. So far no issues, so I'm pretty sure the ground was the issue.
Thank you Bill, Tom, and Tim for the ideas/help! | |
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:52 pm | |
| Do the LT1's have a T-stat ground like the TBI's? | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:57 pm | |
| No, they are all on the coil bolt I beleve. | |
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95brmw
Posts : 1434 Join date : 2009-11-10 Age : 39 Location : Connecticut
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:51 pm | |
| Sounds like you found it, but if you run into it again check the grounds inside the car. There's a ground point behind the kick panels on both sides of the car, might need to pull the sill plate off to see them. | |
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silverfox103
Posts : 1540 Join date : 2009-01-25 Age : 29 Location : Littleton, NH & St. Simons Island, GA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 6:58 pm | |
| Missed that you replaced the auxiliary post, I've had grounds cause strange problems. Glad you figured it out.
Tom | |
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Matt Trakker
Posts : 5093 Join date : 2009-07-30 Age : 42 Location : Reading, MA
| Subject: Re: Bizarre roadmaster electrical issue Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:32 pm | |
| This thread makes me realize I have a LOT to learn about the LT1 cars coming from the TBI ones...lol. Glad you found it, I'll wait until I have the other stuff sorted out but I think I'll remove/clean all the grounds on the SS (carefully) when I get a chance... | |
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