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electrical issues

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mxracer208 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote mxracer208 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: electrical issues
    Posted: 23 February 2010 at 9:30am
I have a few electrical issues with my 86 GT and I was wondering if I anyone could help. My speedometer doesn't work, the temperature guage doesn't work and the tachometer is way off. (Idle is 3000) Also the turn signals blow a fuse after about 30 seconds. Any help would be great.
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Patrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 February 2010 at 9:58am

If you're not familiar with Pennock's Fiero Forum, you better add it to your "Favorite" list right now.

There is a whole lot more traffic through that site than here, and there is a HUGE database of ten years worth of posts covering anything and everything to do with fixing Fieros.

 

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CFoss View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 February 2010 at 7:21pm
Would a schematic help (Are you electrically inclined)?

The speedo has an internal buffer which requires +12 and ground and the signal from the vehicle speed sensor to work (VSS).

The Tach needs a signal from the distributor and +12 and ground to work.

I think the temp guage needs +12 and ground and a sender wire to work.

I wonder if the fuse you are blowing also feeds the guages???

Anyone know...I don't have that part of the schem handy...


Chay
86 SE 3.4
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mxracer208 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote mxracer208 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 February 2010 at 7:56pm
thanks for the help
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ARTIC-1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ARTIC-1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:14pm
i have what you need,cant post it because the file is 300k E/mail me an ill
send it to you,hope this help.
SNOW MAN

87-GT/AUTO-2.8_ WHITE

88-TTop/ Duke-2.5. RED
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Patrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:23pm
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Matt View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Matt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 February 2010 at 12:37am
Your speedo doesn't work because the drive gear in your transaxel is gone. (chewed up into bits inside the transaxel, but mostly drained out now)

Your tach has a loose/cracked wire near the distributor. Just jiggle the main harness around and the tach will come to life. Get a VOM and start checking through your harness for cracked wires.  Trust me I know... *CFoss is an excellent resource here*

And temp gauge, define way off? What temp is it showing? Last time I drove it.. almost a year go, the thermostat was fine and temp was great.

Have no idea about turn signals, they worked fine a year go.

Never owned the car but worked on it and knew previous owner.

Good Luck!
I wanna go fast.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 February 2010 at 11:41am
Is it the transaxle side gear or the vss side gear...he could just get a new vss, no?

There is an easy check for the guage...when you turn on the keys to 'test' the guage should max out. This is because in the ignition switch the test position shorts out the sender lead and that causes full deflection. If this works then...

take this one step further..move the keys to the run position and locate the sender on the engine, pull off the wire and short it out...full deflection? If not, the problem is in the wiring between the sender and the guage. If it does go full deflection, get a new sender.

With the tach, it needs to be checked out. Either it's a dist connection like Matt says, or the 'tach filter' is toast, or there is a connection problem with +12 or ground in the instrument panel. It's probably the dist connector, as they are a known weak spot.

To check this, get an oscilliscope to see the signal, or use a voltmeter capable of HZ detection. If I was on the mainland I'd do it for you, but alas I'm on the beautiful island enjoying the sunshine.

Chay

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CFoss View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 February 2010 at 11:45am
BTW guys, I found a wonderful resource for REAL service manuals for all our cars:

http://www.fieronews.net/fusion/downloads.php

Check it out. I was downloading all last night.

They have all the schematics and such and actually match what's on my car (Blown away)!


Chay



86 SE 3.4
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Patrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 February 2010 at 12:29pm

Originally posted by CFoss CFoss wrote:

BTW guys, I found a wonderful resource for REAL service manuals for all our cars:

http://www.fieronews.net/fusion/downloads.php

Are there manuals there that aren't already on the club's server Here?

Dave, perhaps you'd like to comment on this.

 

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Dr.Fiero View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dr.Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 February 2010 at 2:26pm
Wow...  mega load of stuff!

Few videos there that I'd even forgotten about!  Brings back some memories!  I shot a bunch of them. 

The 'strip' video was taken from my balcony, looking down onto the driveway of my house.  We had a bylaws nazi sitting in his car about 200ft up the street scoping us out...  we thought about going up there with 10 of us, and flipping his car - but thought better of it.  ;)

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 February 2010 at 12:51am

A ton of that video was ripped from our club server.  Yes he asked first.

        We have over 15gig of Tech and assorted Videos on our dir.

http://videos.westcoastfieros.com/

 

Better have broadband.

Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.
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Romeo View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Romeo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 February 2010 at 1:14pm

B.H.B.

Blowing a fuse every time would imply a short to ground before the bulbs, or a short to power after them. Not sure how much that'll help you though. Look for spot where wires could rub on metal, or rub into eachother.

Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dr.Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 February 2010 at 2:39pm
And don't get fooled by the old 'shorted bulb'.Doesn't happen too often, but it can.


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Patrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Patrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 February 2010 at 2:50pm

Originally posted by Dr.Fiero Dr.Fiero wrote:

And don't get fooled by the old 'shorted bulb'.

Been there, done that.

Yeah, sometimes it's the simplest things that throw us for a loop.

 

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Romeo View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Romeo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 February 2010 at 4:56pm

Hey, it's like my teacher told me, you can only ever have two problems with an electrical circuit: Too much resistance, or not enough. lol

Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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