Help, No Ignition Power!!!

[JERRY88GW]

Ok, the other day, I was cruisen down the road when my radio went dead. Then I looked at my gauges, and they were all reading zero. Then my engine stalled, and I smelled a burning wire smell.

So, I do have power to certain items i.e. interior lights and hazard signals, but anything that is controlled by the ignition is out.

I know it's not the starter, I've shorted the starter module to get the starter to turn over. It turns over fine.

What do you guys think? I think it's a burned power wire going to the ignition switch.

Please Help,

Jerry

[rawdave]

fusable(spelling?) link somewhere maybe???

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87 Grand Wagoneer
TFI Upgrade
Thorley Headers

[JeepFreak]

It's probably the amp gauge. I tried to charge my dead battery by driving around and fried mine and it did the same things you are talking about. They melt fairly easy. Just connect the two posts from the amp gauge together on to one post to see if thats it.

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JeepFreak

[Rednife]

My '87 GW did the same thing. At first I thought it was one of the fusible links on the relay(right fender well) I changed 'em one at a time but it didn't work. Turns out it was the cable to the starter. The insulation was thin and it was shorting on the frame rail. Hope this helps.

Rednife

[chefmrl]

Looking at all the grease covered wires at the firewall and harness, checking the fusable links, the ignition switch on the steering column, the relay etc. It was a wire in a bundle that was exposed and shorting.I had to unwrap all the wires and replace it. I have changed the ignition module too, I had intermitent trouble starting the wag, sometimes it would fire up sometimes nada. I'm real shi--y at trouble-shooting, I just start replacing stuff.

[andy d]

sound just like the fusable link that blew on the wag last summer. it was in harness between the starter relay and the alternator iirc

[csread]

Fusible link. You can usally smell the the insulation burning when it overheats. Be sure you replace it with the correct size or will let go again. Happened to my 89 GW.

[JERRY88GW]

Thanks guys for all your input.

I haven't been able to get around to it yet. I've been busy this whole week moving into my new apartment.

Exactly where are the fusible links? I suppose that will be the first thing I'll try.

Thanks,

Jerry

[chefmrl]

Look at the starter relay, passenger side fender well, thats the one that went on me.
Mine had a big glob of black rubber melted down onto the body. I was wondering if the smell was me or the guys driving in front of me. Na couldn't be me right...............

ha ha

[JERRY88GW]

Problem is fixed.

It was the fusible link, that powers the ignition. The wire was burned right in half! I had also fried my ignition coil when I was trying to hot-wire the GW when it broke down. Thank goodness I had a spare down in the basement.

Thanks for the help!

Jerry