Wiring/Electronics Problem

[Osiris1977]

Hello everyone. I hope someone out there can help me. I bought an 85 300ZX earlier this month, and it was running great until I left the parking lights on. I recharged the battery. The vehicle started, but the only electronic items working were the mirrors, the windows, and the headlights (but they weren't popping up) and they were dim. On gut instinct took the vehicle to get the alternator tested...it was putting out just under 10volts. I replaced the alternator, and I still have the same problem...No tail lights, no brake lights, no hazard/turn signal/parking lights, no fog/driving lights, no back-up lights, and no internal lights (to include dash lights, radio, courtesy/dome/map lights, and the volt and oil pressure gauges). I checked all of the fuses, and all were in working order. I've replaced the battery, and still the same problem. On occasion everything will mysteriously start working when I rev the engine real high (to try to explain, I do a double press of the accelerator, kind of vroooom, vrooooooooooooom type of thing). I'm getting really frustrated trying to figure this out, so please help if you can.

[evildky]

sounds like a wiring issue, start with the battery cables, do they have corroded spliced lead clamps on them? if so the propper OE replacement cables are nto too expensive and well worth the money IMHO, check where the leads attach to the battery and trans, make sure everything is snug and reasonably clean, take a look at the top and bottom of your fusible link box, look for burnt wores or excessive corrosion, I'm gussing you find something by this point

[Osiris1977]

I checked the battery cables, and they seem fine. I just don't understand why the car starts right up (obviously power to the fuel pump), the headlamps light up, the windows go up and down, and the mirrors work. I was thinking maybe one of the relays under the hood, or the stop light sensor. What about the headlamp sensor even though the headlamps come on? Anyone know how to test those sensors to see if they are good? I found them used for a reasonable price on e-Bay. Any thoughts?

[Osiris1977]

If I don't figure out what's wrong soon, I'm probably going to part the POS out and let the junk yard take the rest.

[evildky]

did you check the fusible link box? top and bottom?

[Osiris1977]

OK, so a buddy of mine came over and double checked all my fuses, and used a tester to check the fuse box, and only part of it was getting power (all of the fuses were fine). Apparently a fusible link in the main harness had blown. Possibly when the voltage regulator on the old alternator was bad there was a voltage spike that blew the link. Fixed it, and everything works like it did before. Thanks evildky!!!

[evildky]

I knew it had to be in the source section fo the wiring, and us old z guys always go to the fusible links