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Topic: Timing a possessed Cougar. (Read 13166 times) previous topic - next topic

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #61 –
Exactly my thoughts, I'm on my own, nobody to help me out, so I'm going to need a path to follow. Let me go out and take a couple of pictures with my camera and so if I can figure out how to download them to this forum.

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #62 –
Replace the link, at least temporarily, with an inline fuse @ about 10 amps. Then, use the diagram to disconnect everything powered by the fuse link. Power up and see if the fuse you installed blows.  If yes, you have a wiring problem.  If no, you have a component problem.  Make sure you have a good supply of those 10 amp fuses, you'll probably blow a bunch of them.  Report back with the result.

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #63 –
TFYK,
        What if I put the "ole" 27 ga. wire I had be on it and with the cluster apart, start putting one wire at a time back on with the ignition on "RUN" until it blows? That should work?

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #64 –
No. The reason is this:  Once you reconnect the link, everything it powers is then also connected. In other words, only loads down-circuit of the problem link can cause it to blow. Loads down-circuit from other links are not suspected, since they can't blow a link they're not powered by. Is that easy enough to understand?

Disconnect any components powered by the problem link ONLY. Then cycle to run to see if the link (or fuse per my previous) blows.  If yes, it's a wiring problem, if no, begin reconnecting until it does blow.

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #65 –
It is crucial at this point to know if you're dealing with wiring or components.  This will help you to perform an effective repair more easily and more quickly. 

This is the fork in the road, from here we decide whether we go left or right based on the results of this step.

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #66 –
I have 4 ea. wires bolted together (other fuse links and amp. meter) I take that apart and I hook up the 27ga. fuse link to one wire at a time. This way I can touch all but the trouble maker, it will through a fit. Right?

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #67 –
I found a fuse link and I have 4ea. 32v. 10 amp. little fuses I can use.

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #68 –
Ok, I have a blue wire that I attached long ago to this cluster, it goes to my Amp. meter. Only when I touch it to the connector that has 2ea. yellow, 1ea. black, 1ea. black/o, and red/blue to key will it spark. I disconnected the red/blue key wire and it still sparked. The connector wiring goes into my wheel well.
 

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #69 –
Their you go i told you that that would happen. Did you think the fuse link blew because nothing was wrong. WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have to isolate the short or the high current draw. I am loosing my mind !!!! Please God help me!!!!
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #70 –
Wow, I took all the wires and connected them together, hooked up the KEY wire to my starter relay, and left the blue wire that goes straight to my AMP. meter off figuring I took the short out and it's ONLY an AMP. meter so it should start...Right?? I hooked up the battery and turned my key to "START" and nothing. The starter has a wire that goes to my starter relay and it is always hot, then another wire going to the other post on my starter relay (switchable) and that should be all it needs right? Now, I'm confused!

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #71 –
I went out to check what else isn't working, no clock, no radio, no instrument lights, no dome light....nothing!! Nothing in "Accessories" either. She's dead! The other side of the AMP meter, that red wire goes to the starter relay "always hot" post.

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #73 –
I thought I did, the blue wire goes to my amp. meter, amp. meter to my starter relay, The amp. meter works, so it's not shorted. I found the wire causing the short, I disconnected it and everything goes dead. What do I do next?

Timing a possessed Cougar.

Reply #74 –
I've been reading up on "electrical" in my shop manual. I'm only fair at best with schematics. So, far my guess is somehow the power to my fuse panel got disconnected when I disconnected the amp. meter. The one thing I did was hook up a new radio while the car has been down. So, I have the radio out where I can look at the wiring as well as the amp. meter. Automotive electrical is definitely my weak link. I may have to hook up alligator clips to my volt/amp. meter so I can reach inside the car. My schematic only shows a yellow wire going to my fuse panel and I have a y/blk stripe (might be battery hot)  and y/grey dots (looks like it's from my EEC) going to my radio. I can't seem to figure out how to get power back without hooking up the short.
Wish me luck!