'91 Pontiac Sunbird Electrical

[KDavidson]

Hi folks, I purchased my first car at Christmas time and have been waiting for the cold weather to deminish. Well it's about that time to start working on my new and first purchased car. Its a '91 Pontiac Sunbird V6, and having this be my first car I am seeking some advice. This car was never up to par when I bought it in the first place, I bought it to learn how to fix, and to have a toy to play with in the spring and summer time. Having said that, spring break is approaching in two weeks for myself and I want to start working on it right away when this hits. Theres only one problem. I don't know where to start. Having said that, again, I don't know what I am doing and having this be my first car to start working on to fix up I know nothing. This is why I purchased it, to learn .

First off I wanted to describe what seems to be wrong with her. She starts fine, there is no problems with the engine, or transmission. Infact she runs perfectly and could be driveable, ONLY if she were to pass inspection. Thats the problem. I need to get this project started, but the electrical in the car is pretty much hell. I have headlights, tail lights, but no signal, horn, AC/Heater or AM/FM sterio. Well I plan on putting a sterio system in it after the electrical is fixed anyways. I haven't even checked the fuses yet, which is my first step but I was wondering if anyone had an idea where to check the connection of the horn/signal lights and the other dash components. I do have interior lighting, and the dashboard lights/gauges work, but I do not have all the other dashboard components that will work. It probably is not a hard job, I just don't know where to start and want to learn. So I figured I better post here and you might be able to give me some helpful advice. I plan on checking the fuses, but I have a feeling that this might not be the problem, as the headlights and such work fine.

Let me explain, I purchased the car from my cousins friend who ripped the thing to shreds trying to install a sterio system (he had bought it to fix it up himself just like me, but when he messed the electrical he sold it to myself) . Obviously he did not know what the heck he was doing and really messed things around with the electrical, this is why I have come to conclude that I do not think it is the fuses that are bad, but wires that have been cut, YES physically cut by this person, if pictures are needed I will take and post some, I might even need an electrical diagram for a 91 or equivilent. Thanks for your time, any advice you may give to get me start, will help greatly

Kirk Davidson

[Hoags]

Welcome to the forum Kirk. You have done the right thing by joining the forum. I will suggest that you should go out and purchase a repair manual the most popular are the Haynes manuals or the Chilton manuals, both are good and are very helpfull. A word of caution if yoou use the manuals, they are again, very good, but you cannot follow the instructions word for word there are variations to engine components that may make the instructions a bit different than your application. They are a great place to start. the next suggestion I have for you is to use the forum, there is a lot of great info. from people who have done whatever you are going to have to do. Before you post a thread about a particular problem do a forum search using key words for your repair. For example if you have to change a water pump, do a search for "water pump install", like I said, some one has already done it. If you don't find anything via the search, post a thread be as brief as possible and give specifics.

As for your wiring issues, you have said you bought this car from a cousin, ask him for any thing he may have cut out if he has it. If he cut a connector out and he has it you may be able to splice the wires back together by matching colors. when you start to wire things back together use "wire nuts" (the little caps that twist on to the wires where you have connected them). OK back to the problems, since there are somant things that are not working you most likely have wires that are cut and therefore the lights and things cannot work.

One last suggestion, if you are close to a salvage yard you may want to see if they have a car like yours, if so you may be able to go there and look at the things you need to, such as the wires and where they go. seeing things first hand is the best way to do things.

Take your time and enjoy your project, working on cars is alot of fun but there can be a lot of headache that comes with in.

Good luck,
Dan