engine just died

[Skohler]

93 xlt with 110k miles. Driving home tonight and the engine cut out for about 2 seconds then caught itself and ran fine. About 20 minutes later, the engine just died completely. Both times it cut out I was accelerating. I coasted into a parking lot and tried to start the car. No turning over, no clicking, absolutly nothing. No dash lights (check engine, abs, etc..) The headlights turn on nice and bright, just the starter does absolutely nothing. I did find the IGN fuse (60 amp) blown. I walked to autozone and bought a few and they both blew, but at least it cranked for a few seconds before blowing the fuse. I replaced the alternator about 4 weeks ago and replaced the radiator and hoses this morning. Where could I have accidentaly sprayed water to cause a short? any other wires around the radiator I could have loosened or cut?? I will check it out tomorrow with light and hopefully better weather. It is about 10 degrees out now and I really don't want to mess with it. Appreciate any thoughts for testing it tomorrow.

Steve

 

[Nate1]

Could be a GEM (or similar) problem. Sounds like a faulty computer more than a dead engine.

 

[Skohler]

Would a faulty computer blow fuses? One other odd thing I forgot to mention in my first post is that once the fuse was replaced and the engine turned over, the dash lights did come on but very faintly. It seems as though power is being seriously drained during ignition.

Thanks for your thoughts
Steve

 

[Alec]

Could it be something as simple as a bad ignition switch? That would cause a short and large drain in the system, and specifically blow those fuses and kill the motor.

 

[Skohler]

Alec,

Thanks for the response. The switch did cross my mind, it just seems like a big coincidence that I was working with water and now I have a short somewhere. You are right though, I will look at the switch.

edit:: I just remembered one other thing that may make this easier to diagnose. As I have been searching through the forums, I ran across something that may apply here. I seem to remember that when the door is opened with no key in ignition and no headlights on, there was a ding/chime. Wouldn't that be either the ignition switch or the key switch?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Bashman]

Steve, my '93 only dings when the key is in the ignition and the door is open. Could the starter relay possibly be shorting?

 

[Alec]

No key no lights chime points to a little module that is related to the ignition switch.

 

[Bashman]

So, if he has a chime with no key and no lights this little module is toast.
Alec, am I reading this correctly or am I way out in left field?

 

[Alec]

I think so. There was a thread a few weeks ago with a nice picture. This picture showed a little blue relay connected to the ignition switch, and that little thing needed to be replaced.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Its a wild guess, but possibly the starter Solenoid? I'm not sure if its on that circuit - but its worth a shot of diagnostics with a multimeter. These things are relativley cheap - and go, since they are electromechanical switches.

 

[Skohler]

Thanks to all who replied with ideas. I purchased both pos and neg battery cables, ignition switch, starter solonoid switch. Autozone ran out of the mega 60A fuses, so I had to have the car towed home. I'll work on it this week and post back if I had any luck. Does anyone know where the ignition switch actually is located? Is it somewhere at the base of the steering column? I tried looking for it and could not find it.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Bashman]

To get to the switch you will have to remove the lower instrument panel cover (section below steering column) and the reinforcement panel that is behind it.

 

[Skohler]

update

well, had the car towed home. I replaced the starter solenoid relay (by the battery and fuse panel) and the ignition switch (on the base of the steering column). For a while, I no longer would blow the ign fuse- but it still would not start. The proper dash lights would come on faintly with the key in the "on" position but nothing from the starter. Last night i tried jumping the battery just in case it was low on juice. Still nothing but after a while of trying the ign fuse blew. I still have to replace both battery cables and cross my fingers. That will be this weekend.

Steve

 

[gavin]

on my 86 B2 anyway, I was having similar problems (except for the blowing fuses) where truck wouldn't do anything.. sometimes it clicked, sometimes it would do nothing. So I replaced the starter. Same problem.
Replaced Pos battery cable, nothing.

It came down to the engine block ground was dirty and oily as all hell, causing a very bad ground. Cleaned the hole and surrounding area very well with brake cleaner, and been fine ever since.

It's a possibility..

 

[Skohler]

I finally replaced the pos and neg battery cables, what a pain. Still nothing from the starter. I took the starter in and autozone said it was bad. New starter is now installed, still not turning over.

The starter, pos and neg battery cables, starter relay, and ignition switch are all new. At this point, the dash lights do not come on when the key is in "on" position. The relay clicks, starter does nothing. I'm going to recharge the battery in case it is low on juice.

Steve

 

[Skohler]

Finally back in business. Unfortunatly I do not know what I did. I tried jumping the two metal posts on the starter relay and the starter wined a little. I kept trying this until I smelled something burning. I unplugged the neg post on battery and found that the coil pack condensor was very hot at the plastic connector. Itried to loosed this plastic connector but could not budge it loose. It occurred to me that I could not hear the fuel pump making any noise with the key "on" position. I put the old starter relay back on, tried jumping the posts and did get some action again back to the starter. I jiggled all the relays and reconnected the neg post and things came alive. I needed a jump from my other car, but she started right up. Seems to be running just fine (starts a lot better than before also). I wish I knew what I did, maybe just jiggling the relays?? Anyway, at least the starter is new, battery cables are new, and a few switches are new. One other thing- I did not have to pull the steering wheel off to get to the lock assembly.

Thanks to all that helped
Steve