1992 grand am se electrical problem

[bsymes39]

I have a 92 ga and the headlights, heater, interior lights, and radio have quit working. The blinkers also stopped but have since started working again. One symptom was I had to jiggle the key to get electrical to work for over a month before I lost everything. I was assuming the key switch was out but not so sure as headlights not working with car running or not. Ive checked the fuses and all are good. Any help will be appreciated.

[thephantom1492]

Possibly faulty ignition switch.
It switch many things, like accessory.

I do not know how things are wired in that year (or in any others), but you can have 1 or 2 accessory wire and 1 or 2 ignition wire. I know some car even have 3 ignition wire!

Each wire power part of the car.

Accessory are what are in the accessory position, which also get powered in the run part.

The ignition section also stay while in start position. I do not know if all stay there or only part, but the ignition wires power some stuff required to start, like the fuel pump.

Since you said you used to have to wiggle the key to have them work, I'ld say that one of the accessory wire do not get powered anymore when you turn the key. That could be (hardly) confirmed by checking the wires. Also, if you can get to the wires behind the switch, there is a chance that one pin is discolored, or even that the plastic around it melted. This would happend with a bad contact, which cause the contact to heat up. If you see that, you know you have a bad contact. If you do not, it just mean that the contact didn't heated up enought. A voltmeter could be usefull to confirm. Continuity test could fail to proprelly test. turn the key to acc. or run and see if you have about 10-15V there. If less than 10V you definitivelly have problems.

[bsymes39]

unfortunately wasnt in the steering column replaced the entire column with a good one with no positive results. Now im wondering if there is a fuse which would power the lights, heater, and stereo or am I looking at a computer problem

[thephantom1492]

looking at the wiring diagram that I have...
the fuse box seems to be in 6 parts (as in 6 main power wire goes to it)

section:fuse

4.1: RDO-BAT
- radio
4.2: CTSY
- power mirror
- rear reading light
- luggage compartiment light
- curtesy lights
4.3: TAIL/LPS
- "combo switch" <=== not more precise
4.4: FTP
- "combo switch"
4.5: HDLP (slightly offset to the right)
- "combo switch"

5.1: HTR-A/C
- A/C-HTR/defrog switch
- elect brake ctrl relay
- elect brake ctrl module
5.2: PWR WDO
- power window

Flasher is on 2:3

There seems to be no mention of any computer that come into play for any of those things. But the schema seems a bit incomplete, so it's not impossible.

However, I'ld first try to check with a multimeter if the fuses actually receive the voltage they are supposed to receive.

I can see a few things that could be wrong:
1 - All of those section come from a single distribution point of 12V. It could be damaged somehow (corosion, became loose or what's not)
2 - Water could have come in and damaged the fuse box
3 - a ground point is faulty
4 - Multiple simultanious failure.

For 1 to be valid, the whole section would have to have problem. if a single item work fine then chance is that it can't be it.
For 2... You would have noticed some on the floor normally
For 3... I do not see all the ground points, but I'm pretty sure that you have several one in use there, so I doubt it can be possible
For 4... no comment

Really, good luck. I can't send you the schema, but try to find one for your car make, model and year and try to go up the chain and see if you can figure it out....

Good luck.

OH last thing, some car have a fuse panel in the hood, look there, you might have a blew fuse there... the schema I have make no mention of it, but as I said earlier it also appear incomplete.

[bsymes39]

ok replaced the asm relay now I have radio and heater but no headlights unless I switch from brights to dim. While holding the shift in I get both lights but once I let it go no headlights and still no taillights. Getting closer but still have problems Thx for the info all helped alot.