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Electrical problem!

Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2139
Printed Date: 24 April 2025 at 6:32pm
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Topic: Electrical problem!

Posted By: orange
Subject: Electrical problem!
Date Posted: 21 October 2010 at 9:51pm

Ok so I went to denver, about a 2 hour drive, with the
cool air on (no AC) and the radio the whole time. I have
the 4 speed so i was reving 3200-3400 90% of the time. My
temp was never above normal. Thats just for reference.
When I got home, nothing was working right. the turn
signals wouldnt flash, when i hit the breaks the interior
accent light came on, and when the hazards are on, the
break lights, although dim, flash instead of the signals.
And the weirdest part, when I push the breaks and put it
in revers the fuel pump comes on and dash lights, this is
while the keys are in my pocket. What is wrong? I tore
the whole car apart and followed the taillight wires from
the bulb to the firewall and found no melted parts, it
was all good. I poked around the interior too and found
nothing. Anything would help, I need as much as i can
get! PLEASE HELP!

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Orange 4.9

Replies:

Posted By: orange
Date Posted: 21 October 2010 at 9:51pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACYqExh7JZg
Video of one of the problems

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Orange 4.9

Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 6:45am

THough I can't tell you where... it sounds like you've lost a ground somewhere.

Or a few of them.

Posted By: CFoss
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 9:46am

That has to be some of the weirdest stuff I've ever heard!

Absolutely points to a ground issue.

What happens is that when you energize a circuit (Like when you push the brake lights...they're hot all the time) the energy tries to find a ground to return to the battery. If the normal path is interrupted, it will return through other devices, like lightbulbs (Which will then come on when they aren't supposed to) or, in your case, the fuel pump, etc.

What I would do is this...forget about the stock grounds. Make you own.

Get some large wire (heavy car audio cable should do, and is easily available). Anything that is big would be good.

Connect the engine and the body. Connect the engine and battery -.

These are the two big ones. This ties together the starter, altenator, the body and the battery. There are a bunch of little grounds up front which use the body as a conductor, so they connect between 'stuff' and the body. Look under the dash to locate these and ensure their connections are good as best as you can. I also like to check the ecm grounds are really well done. This ensures the injectors get a good ground, which is very important.

You could try adding 1 main ground at a time and see which one corrects the problem. Then you would know where you were defficient.

Chay

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86 SE 3.4