seriously on last straw

[chevyman9306]

So I thought I got my electrical problem fixxed...NOPE!!! Looked it all over and didn't see anything but I did put a wire in the wrong slot and I had dash lights on all the time tried a new hvac but it did nothing for me...so today I went to a shop and not even 2 seconds after hearing the word electrical the guy turned me away...I don't want to pay the rapping price of a dealership but i do need a shop (Or someone on this forum) to do it as it is out of my capabilities to do...if anyone knows a shop by me that will do electrical for a reasonable price it would be much appreciated!!!!

[98blackbeauty]

what was the original problem.

[Phantom409]

Ya, refresh our memory's

[chevyman9306]

Not really sure now lol but I had thought originally that the burnt wires was the problem...one had about a foot stripped off of it and then some heat shrink put back on it...then there was some ducktape over two other connections that appear to be factory connections...then one more wire looked like it burned from one connection to another...it looked like it got hot enough to burn in spots but not enough to actually catch on fire and burn...Any inputs are welcome and much appreciated...like I said I am on my very last nerve when I am ready to pay someone to fix it...(If you ask my ol' lady she will tell you I am the tightest of the tight wads)8-O

[Akodo]

Are these under the dash or in the engine compartment?

Im an electronics tech, troubleshooting wiring is about 80% of my job.Sounds like you have a short somewhere in the lighting circuit. So what option is not working now, or is the only problem that the lights for the dash are still on? Do they go out when you shut the car off?

[TB2]

Too bad your not closer to Detroit. I've got a good freind that owns an Auto Electric shop in Detroit. His specialty is stuff just like this. Give us some more info though, I've figured out plenty of crap like this before.

[98blackbeauty]

Dude! raise your right hand, now take your left hand and grab hold of yourself. Electrical problems are no different than mech. problems you need to step back, look it over. 1. what is not working correctly. 2. get a good manuel for your car with wiring diagrams. 3. where were wires that were burnt/melted how did you discover them? There are a lot of us here that can help you but we need more info. then we can help you zero in on problem. to assess #1 above maybe write down a list of everything not working. Also what aftermarket things were installed on car ie: radio, fog light etc. also go back now and recheck each fuse inside and under hood, note any blown fuse. Let us know the answers to these questions.

[chevyman9306]

Ok so here is my original post
http://www.mifbody.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=26063

I am going to look over and work on it tonight with my friend...I don't think I would be stressed out about this as much if I could actually take the whole dash off instead of just loosening it up so I can see and work a little bit inside of it...the dash lights and brake lights don't come on with the switch or the brake peddle but the turn signals work in the tail and the headlights flip up with the switch...the only way I can get the dash lights on is hooking one of the wires up in the wrong spot...but they stay on and the switch has no effect on them...hope I answered everybody's questions and again I really appreciate you guys taking the time to reply...Also as a side note the way I feel right now I think I need to grab myself with both hands!!! LOL!

[98blackbeauty]

ok lets start with the brake lights. Do you have a meter, starting at the brake switch do you 12 volts on the one side.? when you push on the brake the other side? if not bad switch. I'm assuming you'll have it on both sides of the switch. My book shows it then goes through the hazard flasherbut my book is a 94,95 you need to follow circuit to the brake lite bulbs. My book shows orange wire from fuse to brake switch then brake switch out islight blue to hazard flasher then is yellow out to brake light on the left and dark green on the right side. check each stage and push the brake petal to send 12 volts to bulbs. OBTW the fuse for the brake lights is fuse 1 20amp.
fuse 7 15A is for instrument cluster goes through parking lamp relay to BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) this suppies 12 v to the instrument cluster. There is a brown wire out of bcm it also suppies the radio power and tail lamps and the instrument cluster. See if you have 12 v there .
I'm not leaving you hanging but this should give you a start. be sure you have a good ground for the com of the meter. I don't know what your skill level is? When you get into these 2 area's if you want you can call me, My book does include 1996 -1998 also.
My number is 586-207-1450

[chevyman9306]

ok lets start with the brake lights. Do you have a meter, starting at the brake switch do you 12 volts on the one side.? when you push on the brake the other side? if not bad switch. I'm assuming you'll have it on both sides of the switch. My book shows it then goes through the hazard flasherbut my book is a 94,95 you need to follow circuit to the brake lite bulbs. My book shows orange wire from fuse to brake switch then brake switch out islight blue to hazard flasher then is yellow out to brake light on the left and dark green on the right side. check each stage and push the brake petal to send 12 volts to bulbs. OBTW the fuse for the brake lights is fuse 1 20amp.
fuse 7 15A is for instrument cluster goes through parking lamp relay to BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) this suppies 12 v to the instrument cluster. There is a brown wire out of bcm it also suppies the radio power and tail lamps and the instrument cluster. See if you have 12 v there .
I'm not leaving you hanging but this should give you a start. be sure you have a good ground for the com of the meter. I don't know what your skill level is? When you get into these 2 area's if you want you can call me, My book does include 1996 -1998 also.
My number is 586-207-1450

Well we looked and tried some things and the closest we got was backwards where on was off and off was on...but we didn't get braking brake lights just regular lights...he took off and I came in to post and saw yours and then called him back...We both think you are on to something with the brown wire because we could still get the lights to come on and off but not with the brake pedal...all the fuses are good...aftermarket electrical stuff is a RADIO, radar detector, e-cut outs, and lights in the ash tray, (all but the radio are wired into the secondary cigarette lighter). I don't have a meter and my skill level with electrical is basically beginner. I still get a little freaked out when I see a crap load of wires. I also wanted to say thank you so much I feel honored that you would take time to look all that up to help someone you never met.

[98blackbeauty]

no problem, glad to help fellow mifbody guy. Go to radio shack or walmart get a cheepy volt ohm meter, then you can follow the circuit out from fuse to, to, to, Both problems may be related but just start on 1 and follow till you resolve it. you mentioned several wires so each may be a seperate problem.

[98blackbeauty]

any progress? I'll be in and out all day let me know if you need more help.

[chevyman9306]

So I worked on it a little bit over the weekend with no progress except that I know that the radio was professioanlly installed (can tell by the way the wires are connected) the brown wire was tapped into...but it had the wire wrapped around it then electrical tapped so the brown wire was never cut in half...just had some insulation takin off...then I tried to start it and got nothing so I thinking of putting it in a shop that is more qualified than a dealership to do it at a rate of $60 per hour. don't know though opinions???

[chevyman9306]

So I worked on it a little bit over the weekend with no progress except that I know that the radio was professioanlly installed (can tell by the way the wires are connected) the brown wire was tapped into...but it had the wire wrapped around it then electrical tapped so the brown wire was never cut in half...just had some insulation takin off...then I tried to start it and got nothing so I thinking of putting it in a shop that is more qualified than a dealership to do it at a rate of $60 per hour. don't know though opinions??? This is the shop were it would go

http://www.superpages.com/bp/South-Bend-IN/Slater-Automotive-L0136976140.htm

[WMCC Gary]

This is the shop were it would go

http://www.superpages.com/bp/South-B...0136976140.htm

I personally would try Penny Automotive in Three Rivers

Penny Automotive
718 West Broadway
Three Rivers, MI 49093
269.278.8460
http://woodwardsgarage.net/index.html