Quick Help Needed

[mendelo]

So I leave work today and am turning left onto a street when I notice that I have armstrong steering. Thinking the motor has died I quickly jack it into neutral and try starting (all the while eyeing the rapidly oncoming cars). Nothing. I manage to clear the intersection and cost to a halt. After a few secs to relieve the blood pressure, I try starting . No clicking, no nothing, not even an attempt to turn over. Then I notice a dead dash, no warning lights, no radio and the windows won't work. A few minutes of pondering shows that everything not connected to the ignition switch is working (power locks, seats, interior lights, hazard) are working just fine. So I am hazarding a guess that this is probably the ignition switch on top of the steering column . The reason for the quick request is that the auto stores are all closing in about 40 minutes and tomorrow is a holiday in Canada, and my wag is sitting forlorn at the side of the road (actually doesn't look too forlorn, looks kind of smug really). If you think I am on the right track or can think of another cause please let me know. A quick look under the hood and under the motor did not reveal any obvious dangling, burnt or otherwise disconnected wiring, but I did replace the wiper blades this morning, so who knows what havoc I may have wrought on the electrical system.

[partpro26]

Check the ignition module. These are prone to problems. It is the square box near the firewall. After the module cools down it should start fine. But could leave you stranded again.

[skeletor]

that happened to once. what happened is the day before i was wheelin a little evidently it jossled the ignition wires loose and the next i take a corner kinda fast and nothing, everything went out, those ignition wires hit the exhaust manifold and burnt em out along with the alt wires and power to the cab. good thing i had just done the ammeter bypass.

but always check the wires for burnt marks even the ones you cant readily see and check the fusible links.

[mendelo]

So I ran to the NAPA store and got an ignition switch. I installed it, well not really, but I disconnected the plugs from the old switch, plugged them into the new one and manually slid the switch to on. Still dead. Much swearing later (You have to understand the Jeep is stranded about 15 minutes from work, my access to the internet and source of all that is FSJ. The NAPA store was a 15 minute hike in the opposite direction). Armed with knowledge and parts (though short on tools) I thought I was set. So jog back to work , another look through the site and find a link to a wiring diagram. Back to the jeep. (Notice a pattern here?) Start to trace the wiring back from the battery and at the starter relay on the right fender, there is a series of wires whose texture does not match regular wire and one cover is split and hiding within are two broken ends of wire. I twist them together and she starts instantly. Triumphantly (and cautiously) I drive back to work. So I think to myself, this must be a fusible link. Now the questions that come to mind.

a) Why was the insulation split? Does the insulation naturally split when the fuse blows or is this an age issue? If this is an age issue and the cover was split, did this contribute to the failure of the link? The wire looked old and corroded, but that could also be the appearance after the link blows. I guess my main question is : was this a one off problem because the wire was old and exposed and corroded or is this the start of a deeper problem and if so this will teach me to replace my windshield wiper blades.

b) How do you replace a fusible link? They seem to be part of the wiring loom rather than a pluggable entity. Also the insulation was dark green in color, which I cannot find reference to its capacity using the color chart (dark green does not appear to be on the list.)

My last observation? What a great site IFSJA.org. Despite my many innane questions I never fail to get a polite, timely and useful response.

[shimniok]

Whenever you lose a lot of electrical circuits at once the first thing to look at is the fusible links that are hanging off the starter solenoid on the passenger fender. Sounds like that is what happened to you.

The fusible link wire usu. has a giant rubber 'block' on it. If it is not oem then the wire insulation feels 'squishier' than normal.

Napa sells fusible links in all sorts of sizes. I replaced several of mine when one went. IIRC, I just took the plastic off a butt end connector and used that along with some shrink wrap. Whatever you do make sure it is a very, very solid electrical connection since everything runs thru it. You don't want resistance resulting in heat/melting. You don't want mechanical connection failures, etc.

Another option I am wondering about is to wire an inline Maxi-Fuse... when that blows, just swap in a new one, no wire cutters needed.

Michael

[bigwoody]

That same thing happened to me a few years ago. I was coming home from work on DEC 31st. I was in a panic and 30 miles from home. I called a friend with a tow truck but it was broke down also. He called a friend of his and that guy came to get me. While I waited I was looking around the engine compartment and saw a wire from the alternator melted to the manifold. I got the wire away from it and it fired right up. I waited for the tow truck and gave him 40 bucks for coming out, then drove home.