no dash lights

[manhitbytran]

hey, i have a problem with my 89 240sx. i had a short in some of the wires in the engine bay . Now none of the cluster lights up when i turn the ignition key, nor does my car start. i checked all the fuses under the dash and in the engine bay. Can any of you help me?Thank you

[vancouverbc]

How could you have a short without blowing fuses? How about fuselinks?

[manhitbytran]

well, where the wires run along the intake, they were kinda melted together. anyways, i checked all those and still nothing.

[vancouverbc]

I wonder what blew to open the circuit? maybe a relay? Does your starter turn over? That would be the easiest problem to solve. Are the sparkplugs sparking.

The factory service manual (1989-1990) is in my signature. Look at the colour of wires that are fused to identify the suspect circuit. or post good quality pic.

[vancouverbc]

zerothread/160219

this article covers testing for sparkplug spark

[manhitbytran]

no spark, no turnover, nothing at all. i was probing the wires that go to the ignition cylinder and none of the wires get any power when i turn the key.

[vancouverbc]

The fact that you dont get power at the ignition switch is consistent with the starter not working. It suggests that the fuse link for ignition switch is blown.

If starter does not turn over , you know the starter circuit is damaged in some way. Make sure you test the fuse link that gives power to the starter/ignition swich.

The electrical diagram shows that the green fuselink supplies power to ignition switch. Make sure battery is ok.
Modified by vancouverbc at 12:17 PM 8/9/2006

[manhitbytran]

i gotta check that wire, ill get back to you when i do.

[manhitbytran]

i checked all those fuselinks, and they are all good.

[vancouverbc]

Ok, so you did a continuity test on the fuse links. Pull the green fuselink for ignition switch. Turn multimeter to dc volts and put one probe on fuselink terminal and one probe on ground. One of the fuselink terminals should give you 12 volts. If you get 12 volts, turn multimeter to continuity and put probe on fuselink terminal that had no voltage and connect other probe to first position on ignition switch. you should get continuity with key out of ignition.

[manhitbytran]

ok so it was the fuselinks, for some reason it looked ok, but when i replaced the one for the ignition switch it works. Stupid me Thanks for your help, i really appreciate it.

[vancouverbc]

LOl. Thanks for reporting back.