Electrical Problem??

Cathy62 · #1 03-13-2007, 04:52 PM

Hi, I'm new to this forum and am one of those women that know absolutely nothing about cars. I really need some help in figuring out what is wrong with my car so as not to get ripped off...again!!
I have a 1994 Olds Eighty-Eight Royale. One day I was getting out of it and went to lock the doors and the power locks wouldn't work. Tried it a little later and it worked fine. A few days later I tried to start it up and it wouldn't start nor would the power locks, windows or interior lights work. I messed with the locks for a few minutes and finally they worked and then the car started right up. The next day I was in line at a drive through and the car cut off. Couldn't get it started and nothing electrical worked inside. Had to have it towed to a mechanic. I don't like the shop I had it towed to but my regular mechanic retired so didn't really know who to use. Anyway they checked it out and said it was the fuel pump and wanted $795.00 to fix it. Could not afford that so I found a mechanic that does work on the side at his home and had it taken there and he charged me $250. He wasn't quite convinced that the fuel pump was the problem but I assured him that's what they said it was so he put in the new fuel pump. Of course that wasn't the problem and it's still doing the same thing. He tried his best to figure out what was going on but told me up front that he wasn't good with the electrical stuff and is convinced that is what's wrong. The car has been sitting for a few months now because I am scared to drive it but I do start it up every few days. My boyfriend doesn't think there is any tie to the windows and locks not working and the car not starting. I really think there is. Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? Also the power window on the drivers side doesn't work and hasn't for a while...way before this new problem. Even though this is a second car I love it and would like to get it fixed but cannot afford another mistake like with the fuel pump. Thanks for any info you can give me!!

Mickey#1 · #2 03-13-2007, 06:13 PM

99% chance you have a bad connection at the driver's side ground bus. The door locks, power windows & fuel pump all share this ground. Pull the metal bar from the connector and clean the male & female side of all the terminals. Apply some dielectric grease & reassemble. Here's a pic to help you locate the ground bus.

maxwedge · #3 03-13-2007, 06:13 PM

Welcome to AF. This is impossible to diagnose from a desk, on site diagnosis is required. It is " possible" the the ground junction under the front drivers side carpet has corroded or is making intermittent contact, this matches your symptoms. To check this out some has to trace theses circuits for commonality when the problem occurs.

Cathy62 · #4 03-13-2007, 07:27 PM

Thanks for the responses. Mickey#1 I'm not seeing that on my car. Is there something I have to remove to get to it? Maxwedge I totally understand that it's impossible to diagnose the problem without seeing it. Everyone I have talked to is clueless as to what the problem can be. I am just hoping for some ideas as to what the problem might be and then I am going to forward them to the mechanic who couldn't figure it out before. He is good and I think could probably fix it if he had an idea of what was going on. There are a gazillion mechanics here but it is so hard to find one that is good and trustworthy and I have been taken advantage of so many times because of my ignorance. It was a sad day when my mechanic retired. Anway thanks again.

Mickey#1 · #5 03-13-2007, 07:34 PM

Cathy - That pic is from a 90 Bonneville but it should be in the same general area. It's most likely wrapped up in black tape.

maxwedge · #6 03-14-2007, 08:45 AM

It may not be a connector but a soldered junction taped in the harness.

arnstr · #7 03-16-2007, 08:02 PM

Is it possible that the connection in the picture is located under the dash in the 94 88. I was just pocking around under the steering wheel-under dash on my fathers 1992 88 and thought I found something similar looking, I also have a 92 buick and i DON'T think I saw these conections on the floor, good thing cause I had a lot of water coming in on my buick on rainy days

arnstr · #8 03-16-2007, 08:08 PM

there is a solid state mechanism under the right side dash that controls the door locks, just under the fuse & relay box, it is also close to the control modules, is it possible that your getting water in there from firewall seal or air conditioning box drain hose, do syptoms occur when rainy or when your A/C is blasting??

Cathy62 · #9 03-17-2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnstr

there is a solid state mechanism under the right side dash that controls the door locks, just under the fuse & relay box, it is also close to the control modules, is it possible that your getting water in there from firewall seal or air conditioning box drain hose, do syptoms occur when rainy or when your A/C is blasting??

I don't think there is any water getting in. I haven't noticed any certain conditions...weather/ac...that causes it to happen. As I mentioned one morning it wouldn't start and I noticed that the power windows and locks wouldn't work either so I kept clicking them and they finally started working and then the car started right up.

Mickey#1 · #10 03-17-2007, 08:45 AM

Cathy - Here's a thread from a guy that had the same problem on the same car. He was able to find the ground bus & didn't mention it being in a different location. It's got to be there & I'll bet a paycheck its your problem.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t626628.html

Cathy62 · #11 03-17-2007, 02:22 PM

Okay...I pulled things back and looked and do see a square thing attached to a hose that has tons of wires. Don't see anything that looks like in the picture. I am posting pic of what I found. Also I was shocked when I pulled the carpet pad back and it is soaking wet under there. The car hasn't been driven in at least 2 mos. so I don't know what that is all about.

maxwedge · #12 03-17-2007, 02:57 PM

Open the harness and look for a soldered junction of ground wires.

Mickey#1 · #13 03-17-2007, 04:34 PM

I owe you an apology. I first saw this picture posted on another forum which referred to it as the ground bus. I believe all those white wires are actuallly a lighting bus for the interior lights. The ground bus should all be black & black with white stripe wires. It's still in the same location just look for where all the black & black/white wires go.

PS - It may be that square thing in your picture.

razr_88 · #14 04-09-2007, 09:47 AM

wow this is something i didn't know about. so forgive me if i'm mistaken but is this the ground point for the ecm?

Mickey#1 · #15 04-09-2007, 11:28 AM

I believe the PCM grounds are in another location. See if can follow them from the PCM. Should be at least 2 grounds that are black or black with white stripe wires.

Edit - Cathy did you ever get this resolved?

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