Electrical problem

[5.0_GT_kid]

Ok, here is the situation. Right before the broken water pump bolt fiasco, my car had developed a weird electrical problem. What would happen is that whenever you would turn on the blower, headlights or press on the brakes, the oil pressure and temperature gauges would start to read higher while the volt gauge would read lower.

On a side note, the circuit for the cigarette lighter inside the car is blowing fuses, but I do not know if this is related. The lighter has never worked since I owned the car and I made no attempts at repairing it until the gauge issue had already started.

So, what should be my first step?

 

[will_95gt]

Hmm, weird. How much does the voltage gauge drop? (Dead center should be 13 V)

 

[5.0_GT_kid]

Hmm, weird. How much does the voltage gauge drop? (Dead center should be 13 V)

I'd have to ask my brother (he was driving the car when this happened) to be sure, but I don't think it was a significant amount. Now on the other hand, the oil pressure and temp gauges would progressively read higher the more you turned on. If you turned on the high beams, blower and hit the brakes you could damn near peg the gauges.

 

[HISSIN50]

Probably a bad ground.

For the lighter issue, check real quick to be sure there are not coins stuck inside the lighter receptacle.

 

[5.0_GT_kid]

Probably a bad ground.

For the lighter issue, check real quick to be sure there are not coins stuck inside the lighter receptacle.

I was hoping you would chime in! So, how would I go about finding out if it was in fact a bad ground?

 

[tmacie]

Huh, I'm having this same issue. its raining here or I'd be out chasing grounds. If you find a solution, let me know.

Thanks,
Travis

 

[HISSIN50]

Before chasing the gauge grounding (each gauge has its own ground as I recall), I would ensure the sheetmetal grounds on the front clip are in good shape. The area under each eyelet is generally painted at the factory, which is not optimal for grounding.

Also ensure the engine ground is intact. Adding a secondary motor-to-frame ground is a decent idea.

 

[BANGERSTANGER76]

I'M HAVING A POWER POINT/CIGARETTE LIGHTER PROBLEM AS WELL. HAS ANYONE EVER ACTUALLY REPAIRED THEIR CIGARETTE LIGHTER/POWER POINT? AND IF SO CAN YOU PLEASE POST WHAT THE SOLUTION WAS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT FOR THE LONGEST. THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS!!!!

 

[HISSIN50]

I'M HAVING A POWER POINT/CIGARETTE LIGHTER PROBLEM AS WELL. HAS ANYONE EVER ACTUALLY REPAIRED THEIR CIGARETTE LIGHTER/POWER POINT? AND IF SO CAN YOU PLEASE POST WHAT THE SOLUTION WAS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT FOR THE LONGEST. THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS!!!!

If there are no coins inside the receptacles and you're sure the rest of the circuit is copacetic (the power seat wiring is not shorting out, etc), have you inspected the wiring in the back of the receptacles?

With a receptacle disconnected, do a resistance test between the two prongs. It should read infinite.