Electrical Problem / Car Dies and Vent Turns on

[daledoering]

Hello,

I'm the proud owner of an '88 Regal.
I am experiencing a rare, but major electrical problem that happens when some wiring underneath the steering wheel console is disturbed. Basically, from what I can see under the console, there is a very large wiring bracket connection, that has several (approx 20-25?) different colored wires that plug together. If the car is OFF and the wire harness is moved or disturbed, the digital spedometer shuts off completely, and you can at that point hear the vent turn on and blow air. If the wires are moved back just a certain way, then the problem fixes itself; spedometer comes back to life and the vent shuts off. What really worries me is while I'm on the road and the vehicle is running, this problem likes to happen at the worst times... If the car is ON and the wire harness is moved or disturbed, again the spedometer goes black, and vent turns on, and instantly the car shuts off, occasionally making a bad jerk on the road and forces you to pull off the road. In my cases I was on the highway.
From what I have determined thus far, I believe there may be a loose or loosening wire(s) that in a circumstance of a bad bump or the car door slamming too hard, it jiggles the wire very slightly off the connected harness, thus rendering the entire vehicle dead. What is strange about this is a gentle touch to the harness, or a very gentle twist and the car comes back on, just as if nothing has happened. I figure if the wire was going to come loose, it would come out completely.. this isn't the case.

Overall, I do not know how difficult it would be for me to resoldier the wire back in place, or honestly if it's even a wire at all... Any suggestions would be appreciated. I will post pictures or addresses from my web server for pictures showing exactly where the problem is happening, and from there some suggestions that can be concluded from this experience. Thanks for your time in advance!!
-Dale

[roysleight]

Have you tried checking any of the connectors in the wiring loom? Unplug and re-plug. Is there any signs of mods that someone may have done; holes or bare spots or electrical tape on any of the wiring?