Electrical problem - any ideas?

[laidbackmomma]

Hi all! I wanted to thank all the helpful people on here that helped me diagnose my O2 sensor problem I had at the end of last year (I got that by lurking and reading through the endless posts...). I now have a new problem that has prompted me to register to see if anyone has some ideas. I know that electrical problems can be a real biatch to figure out!



Umm, letsee. I have a 1995 Plymouth Neon. Last October, my after-market cd player was ripped off (the theif just cut the wires and didn't bother to take the time to disconnect the wiring harness... ). My hubby and friend installed my new (mp3) player and all was well. Of course, I then had to replace the factory speakers to handle the power (nothing major, no amp) and again, all was well. I don't know if any of this plays into my current problem or not, but thought I should mention it.

About a month or so ago, the dashboard illumination quit on me. All other dash lights (like the turn signals, the airbag, engine light, etc. that breifly light up on start-up) work. Along with the illumination going, the door chime when the lights are left on or the key is left in the ignition doesn't work (although it does for the "fasten seatbelt" warning - go figure ). The headlights work, so I was pretty much ignoring the non-existant illumination (a pain when driving at night), but the other night I noticed that I didn't have any tail lights at night either (yet the brake lights work ). So now this has me worried that I better get something done.

When this first happened, I of course thought (or hoped) it was a fuse and checked both the inside fuse box and the one under the hood. All fuses seemed fine. I'm now thinking that there may be a bulb blown under the dash, or a relay of some sort that has gone. Anyone have any ideas? Or am I going to have to submit to the trial and error (and pay big bucks) for a shop to have a look at it?

Ok, on a totally other subject, anyone have any ideas why my rad bubbles like crazy when I turn my car off? I've had this problem for years and it seemed to go away, but with the warmer weather, it's reared its ugly head again. I had the rad flushed in December.

Thanks in advance for any help you may have!

Cindy

[rksnc]

My thought is that the number 12 fuse is bad. It is a 4amp fues that only get hot when lights are turned on.
On the radiator thing, my forst thought is try a new radiator cap.

[laidbackmomma]

Originally Posted by rksnc

My thought is that the number 12 fuse is bad. It is a 4amp fues that only get hot when lights are turned on.
On the radiator thing, my forst thought is try a new radiator cap.

Well, I checked the number 12 fuse and its OK. I think we've actually located the problem...now just to fix it!

It's obviously a problem with the cd wiring. The orange wire from the car (dimmer) was not hooked up to anything, which is correct as I understand. The yellow 12 volt amp wire from the car was hooked up correctly. What seems to be the problem is there is a red wire from the car that is providing constant power as well...weird. It was hooked together with a green/black wire (which seems to run the dash lights, door chime and tail lights) also coming from the car, but was not taped well, so the connection was not complete. So anyway, when this red wire hooks up to the green/black wire, the lights and door chime stay on...even without the key in the ignition! Does it seem strange to anyone else that there are two wires (one yellow, one red) coming from the car that is providing constant 12 volt (both yellow and red turned on the dash lights, etc. when connected to the green/black wire without the key in the ignition)? I would assume that as everything else to do with the cd player is working properly that the other wire from the cd player that hooks into the 12 volt ignition is hooked up correctly. So what the heck is this other red wire, and how/where do I hook up this green/black wire so that the dash illumination, tail lights and door chime hook into the headlight switch??? Ack! We have a friend who is an electrician (and a drunk!) who will be coming over later today to have a look (like I have complete confidence in him...yikes!). I'll let you know what happens, but if anyone has any further ideas on this red wire, I'd be greatly appreciative!

Oh and I will try replacing the rad cap to see if it helps with the rad problem.

Thanks again.

Cindy

[laidbackmomma]

Bueller?............Bueller?

The drunk didn't make it over on the weekend (not surprised), so I haven't fixed anything. If anyone has any further ideas, I'd love to hear em. I'm thinking of wiring the green/black wire into the 12 volt ignition wire. This should make the tail lights, dash illumination and door chime all work when the ignition is on (I think). Guess I'll get me some electricians tape and give it a go...



Cindy

[sirhelm]

I have the exact same issue with a 2000 Neon. The cluster just went out, and then the tail lights.

So now I need to get this fixed as well. The fuses all look good.

So if anyone can help that would be great!


Thanks

SH

[Russian8]

I have the same thing with my 96 neon
the illumination whent out and I installed a new casset player shortly before that.
And my speedometer cluster wasn't working too, but I fixed that.

[Macgyver007]

I am having the same issue with my GF 95 Neon

Still factory radio in place but it does have a gremlins in it.

Sometimes it changes its own radio station sometimes. and the display on it is REALLY dimm.

I am going to be tearing into it this week or the weekend, Will post to let you know how it goes. Who would ever wire the tail lights througth the radio?? WTF?