Dead Stick

Sandfobs · #1 09-05-2009, 10:29 PM

Van died at the mall and I towed it home and changed the starter motor. All seemed fine except the TCS, ABS, and Parking lot was on. I parked it too inspect the brakes thoroughly and my wife needed it and took it. The van along the ride was noticed all it's instrument starting to act erratically and also the gas pedal was being pushed to the floor and the speedometer was registering 120 kms and was maybe doing 30 kms. As the van approached the next intersection died completing and no lights or anything would work, not even the hazard lights.

I brought the battery and alternator to Canadaian Tire and had them tested. The Battery was finished so I bought a new one, and the alternator was fine. I re-installed both and found it completly dead to the world, I even tried to boost it. There is nothing more I can think of and I need some help with this vehicle.

I also found what appears to be an electrical connector, it's fairly long in length and connects no where. It's located beside the battery in that area and I'm almost positive this is the problem but am unsure where it is supposed to be connected too. Many thanks for any posts. I need help.

Sandfobs · #2 09-08-2009, 11:29 AM

Anyone? I've been really stuck? Does anyone have any thoughts?

dewaynep · #3 09-08-2009, 12:31 PM

So you have no power to anything in the van at all? No radio, no lights, no nothing? You have to check the cables coming from the battery going to the fuse panel that sits on top of the battery. Is there a connector on the end of the "mystery" wire or does it look to be corroded and broken off? Let us know and we can go from there.

Jrs3800 · #4 09-08-2009, 05:02 PM

Even better yet... What year is it?

Sandfobs · #5 09-08-2009, 05:41 PM

1998 Oldsmobile Silleoutte ... and yup a dead stick, nothing at all works except periodically the door when open dings but shuts off. I don't know where the mystery cable goes too but it appears like a connection that clips to something... inside the connection there is some blue in it and it runs into the wires that go to the fuse panel.

Sandfobs · #6 09-10-2009, 06:19 PM

THis vehicle is sitting dead outside my sisters help and I really need help here.

Jrs3800 · #7 09-10-2009, 07:30 PM

Have you checked all of the fuses?

Sandfobs · #8 09-12-2009, 12:57 PM

Fuses are good in the fuse panel and under the hood. Still have no idea what the mystery cable is

Sandfobs · #9 09-13-2009, 06:16 PM

I think I am going to remove the alternator and look behind to be sure all the connections are together because I'm sure this mystery connection has to be somewhere around there but I can not remember taking it off.

roadrunner2 · #10 09-14-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandfobs

I think I am going to remove the alternator and look behind to be sure all the connections are together because I'm sure this mystery connection has to be somewhere around there but I can not remember taking it off.

Stretch it out and see how far it reaches, that may give you a clue. Unless the wire has a snake trail to whatever it's supposed to be attached to.

Ignition perhaps?

Perhaps it had some previous use that isn't needed now and was simply left behind.

With the ignition turned on, test the wire for power.

What is the other end attached to?

Sandfobs · #11 09-16-2009, 11:16 AM

The other end is connected to the harness going into the fuse panel on the left side, and it reaches practically across the engine to as far as the air filter. I need to test this wire then and how do I do this hook it up too a ohm meter or something?

roadrunner2 · #12 09-16-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandfobs

The other end is connected to the harness going into the fuse panel on the left side, and it reaches practically across the engine to as far as the air filter. I need to test this wire then and how do I do this hook it up too a ohm meter or something?

A simple test light will suffice to test for power.

Here's a better idea. Locate another van identical to yours and see where that wire goes.

There are lots of the three GM sisters in recycle (scrap) yards. They are all wired the same.

Sandfobs · #13 09-23-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Here's a better idea. Locate another van identical to yours and see where that wire goes.

LOL ummm wouldn't someone posting here have a Siliouette to look into too help me? I've been trying but the women I asked looked at me like I was crazy.

roadrunner2 · #14 09-23-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandfobs

LOL ummm wouldn't someone posting here have a Siliouette to look into too help me? I've been trying but the women I asked looked at me like I was crazy.

Try a scrapyard, there's lots of these vans there.

Sandfobs · #15 09-24-2009, 05:04 PM

LOL Ok I guess you don't have a one of these vans then. (hehe)

Quote:

Try a scrapyard, there's lots of these vans there.

Ok Finally found one the buddy I had there called me and one came in and when I opened the hood and checked the cable beside there it was, just sitting there and not connected to anything.... Well there goes that idea... now what.. this must be something worse than I originally thought. Thoughts?

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