'80 Chero won't start

[6foot4 again]

OK, I tried to narrow it down, and NOW I don't have the slightest clue what it is. I purchased a NEW battery because my old one was leaking water, and nothing would come on ( not even lights ), so I put the new battery in, and it STILL won't even turn the headlights on. When I finally got it on the road about 4 months ago, one of the wires going to the Solenoid fried itself, and I temporarily wired it with speaker wire to get it home. When I tried to dry that wire off, it started smoking, so is that my problem? that wire? Should I rewire that piece, or ???? Help is needed ASAP because this is my DD, and I'm missing work today because of it.

[6foot4 again]

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!

[Will Morris]

If you've got a new battery and you're not even getting lights to go on, or have it crank, then you've got something wired inproperly. Check the ground strap for the batter, and make sure you have the proper gauge of wiring going ot the solenoid and NOT speaker wire. Start checking electrical connections to the solenoid, the battery, and pay attention to the grounds. I gotta run, and won't be back until later, but do a little more looking around and see what you come up with. Let us know and I'll see if I can help you out.

Will

[LRRH]

http://dei-services.com/gw/GW_wiring.html

Look for a wiring diagram and start trouble shooting. I don't like the sound of a wirte fried onto the solenoid. They can be somewhat fragile...but they are fairly cheap if I remember correctly. See if you are getting any voltage or anything through it and go from there.

[Joe Guilbeau]

We really need details, about the only thing we currently know is that speaker wire was wet and when you tried to dry it off it began smoking.

Help us and we will help you...I am positive that I can help out, but I really need some additional information.

You can e-mail me at joe_guilbeau@yahoo.com and with additional information I am sure the vehicle will get up and go.

[6foot4 again]

One night, I was driving home, and I fried this one wire coming from my solenoid to this Yellow ( guessing ignition ) wire, and I spliced speaker wire as a temporary fix. Nothing comes on when this wire is disconnected, so I'm guessing that it is the ignition wire. I believe that the water from the battery ( water leaking from bottom of battery, may have sprayed ) got onto the wires, and when I tried to dry it off, it started smoking and burning the towel I was using, so that is what I know ( I think ).

[2Stock]

Is it just my computer or are All of the wiring diagrams on the dei-services link dead links?

http://dei-services.com/gw/GW_wiring.html

[AMC258]

The links don't work for me ether, as for 6f4's prob, get a test light, and start testing your wires, I'd wager that you may have fried out the solinoid, also, lose that speaker wire, put in some heavy guage electrical wire. Another thing, while you're in there, bypass that amp guage!
Best of luck

[gsmikie]

check the wires on the back of the amp/volt gauge might be a bad gauge

[6foot4 again]

Found out it's my ignition wire, it's kinda' loose at the point where it goes from the engine compartment into the body. Any ideas on how to get to this using: a wire stripper/ crimper, screwdrivers and 10 ga. wire?

[6foot4 again]

btt

[Joe Guilbeau]

This is the wire that is from the Ignition Switch on the Column that goes to thru the firewall via the connector, and on to the Solenoid?

You mentioned 10 GAUGE...the ignition wire is most likely 16 GAUGE wire and it probably is Light Blue.

If, on the other hand you are looking at the Yellow Wire 10 Gauge wire, this is the return from the Ammeter which is fed by the Red wire from the alternator.

If this is the case, you might as well do the Ammeter bypass thang.

In any case, the plug is probably the same as a CJ plug, and there are tools that allow one to unplug the connector and remove and replace each wire from the existing plug and re-insert it into the newly purchased plug. Do one wire at a time until only the "bad" wire is left. Now go ahead and cut the plug loose with the attached bad wire and take it down to any electronics supply house, they will point you to a connector that they will probably crimp onto a short section of 10 Gauge Yellow wire that you purchase, and you can now go back and insert that wire into the plug, reattach plug to firewall, and splice in the new wire to the existing Yellow wire.

Same thing for the Light Blue ignition wire.

Some folks just drill out the offending wire and pass through another replacement and splice it into the wire under the dash.

This is distasteful to me.

[Bob Barry]

Before you do an ammeter bypass, check the condition of the 10ga red wire off the stud on the back of the alternator, all the way to the firewall. It is the other end of the circuit, which is completed by that yellow wire. That is the charging circuit, which runs through the ammeter. If the yellow wire fried, then the red wire probably isn't in very good shape either, in either the engine compartment or, more importanly, in the wiring-harness under the dash. When it goes, it gets red-hot and melts not only its own insulation, but the insulation of the wires surrounding it.

Oh, and the reason that wire was smoking is because you were charging your battery through it. Speaker wire usually can't handle 50+ AMPS for long... redface.gif

[6foot4 again]

Got it fixed, and there was another problem:

the negative wire was touching the Ignition wire INSIDE the harness, shorted out, and I couldn't see it until I tried to remove the ignition wire. Thanks for all of your guys' help. tongue.gif

[Stuka]

Cool, did you bypass the amp meter?

[6foot4 again]

Have no clue, I BELIEVE that the ground wire was touching the YELLOW wire, causing it to short out.

[Stuka]

I would bypass it. I have done it to both of my jeeps. Its a major fire hazard otherwise.

[6foot4 again]

no clue, you wanna come do it for me? I'm not so good with electrical items ( that's why I wasn't an Electronics Technician in the Navy like I had signed up to be with my 84 ASVAB ). Buy 6-pack for you....

[Stuka]

I dont drink hehe.

its really easy. pull the guage cluster back, you will see the amp meter has two post. one wire on each side. simply move the passenger side wire to the driver side post so the two wires are together.

[ September 25, 2003, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: Stuka ]

[6foot4 again]

A 6-pack of pepsi ( or coke or whatever )?

[Bob Barry]

You can even reach up under the dash to do it (one you remove the left A/C vent, if so equipped). Just disconnect the battery first.