Re: Electrical Problems

[rdh@genrad.com (Robert D. Houk)]

   I have a 1993 90.   Today the windshield wipers, turn signals, headlights, 
   fog lights, rear defogger,  sun roof, windows, power mirrors, and AC/Heater 
   fan stopped working.  At first I thought it was just a fuse, then I figured 
   out that 4 or 5 different fuses were involved.  Hoping for the best, I 
   replaced them all, but I'm still having the same problem.  Any suggestions?

How about: "Drink Heavily"

Oh, you mean a "constructive" suggestion . . . sounds like a "fuse box"
problem (I'd parenthetically point out that this means $$$, but we all
know that already, right? Actually, shouldn't a '93 be under warranty?)

How about the radio? DOes anything electric work? Horn? Fuel pump? Etc.

Does engine start/run?

My [ye olde] UrQ has a "secondary" circuit that's run via a "load cutoff"
(or some such name) relay -- basically this relay is used to power about
half of the other zillion relays (A/C, fan, rear defogger, windows, etc.),
so if it went out for any reason, lots and lots of electric thingies would
"fail", yet the engine will still run and all "safety" peripherals would
function properly... as I recall, there is no "fuse" to drive the load
reduction relay, it's just wired directly into the ignition-not-start
circuitry. I *think* the emergency flasher is not keyed off of the load
reduction relay, so it will always work. The headlights *used* to be keyed
off the ignition switch (but now are keyed off of separate power bus and
relays). 

If the engine turns over but *nothing* else works, (e.g., horn), I would
look for a "fusible link", generally connected right at the battery (big
cable goes directly to starter [solenoid], smaller guage wire would be
to rest of car....

If it's none of the obvious things, you'll just hafta get out the ole
voltmeter and trace the problem.

As I recall (but getting real vague here, and also 10-year old car, so who
knows how much will be applicable to yours), if the unswitched +12 to the
ignition switch was interrupted (connector failed, loose, etc.), then lots
of stuff will fail, including I *think* the emergency flashers; The radiator
fan is the only thing I can think off offhand that "bypasses" the ignition
switch -- goes from fusebox directly to fan motor/thermoswitch.

Get a schematic/wiring diagram, plenty of aspirin, and have fun.

					-RDH