Electrical Help needed

[johnrem46]

I was attempting to replace the radio. Everything was going well, I touched some wire and lost power to the ignition. It seems like the natural safety switch went bad? I turn the key and nothing.. I still get lights and stuff but can not start the car.. Can anyone help?

 

[warren s]

Well start with the simple things, check for a blown fuse first.
Did you pull a wire out? Did you move the shifter out of the way, and maybe not put it back into park fully?

 

[6speeder]

.....I touched some wire and lost power .......

Electricity 1A.... disconnect battery. Start with the fuse box (if you haven't looked already), and migrate from there. I'll see if I have wiring diagrams for your application, and check back..........

 

[johnrem46]

Thanks for the reply.. I checked the fuses all looks good. When I turn the key on. the brake light indicator on the dash does not go on. I did not disconnect anything I did move some wire out of the way. that is when it all happened.

 

[6speeder]

I'm confident that you are working with a 'short'. I owned a '73 many years ago, and was in hopes that I still had the manual, but no luck. Some member should have a wiring schematic that will help solve your problem

 

[johnrem46]

I have a wiring Schematic can not make any sence of it. There are just so many wires behind the bezel. seems like I have everything sorted out but can not figure out what is wrong. It seenms that i am getting power on the acc. side of the ign switch. When I turn the key I get a click to a little box just about where ac and heater control mounts. Could it be a bad ground??? I do not even know where to look for ground terminals..
Thanks for the help

 

[warren s]

Sounds like a relay is clicking.

If you shorted out somethin it would either be a blown fuse or possible a fusable link. Thats harder to find because its jsut a piece of wire that melts inside, if your car even has them.

Are there any other systems that dont work? Dome lights? Guage lights?
etc etc

 

[6speeder]

..... It seems that i am getting power on the acc. side of the ign switch.....

Are you using a meter to determine power, or watching your dash lights?
It is unlikely that you will solve this problem without a volt/ohm meter, and a diagnostic decision tree, unless you really get lucky. If all you did was to 'touch' wires, I would recommend that you disconnect the battery, and inspect the area that you 'touched' for wires that may have caused a 'short', or became disconnected/broken internally. You are working with 30+ year-old wiring, and some wires may have become brittle. The only way you will detect wiring that may have disintegrated internally is by measuring continuity or voltage of that wire.

 

[jdp6000]

I don't think that relay is your neutral safety switch...it attached to the shifter. It sounds like your alarm relay...basically a kill switch. Did you inadvertantly trip the alarm?Try turning the alarm off. Not sure how to do it on your car. Mine is within lock on the driver side door. I have to lock and unlock the door with a key to activate and disactivate.

Jim