HELP - huge electrical problem

[rabidcrow]

hi,
OK, I own a 98 eclipse GSX. I got the engine rebuilt, transmission rebuilt, put new red faced gages in, OBX gauge cluster that has an oil pressure and a water temp gauge in it. I also put in a new CD player with a 2300 watt amp and 3 10s. I reran the speaker wire from the CD player to under the front seat, bypassing the stock amp. New oxygen sensors and all that. Now, for the problems. After putting the engine/trans back in and did all the wiring, I ran in to huge electrical problems. When the key is in Ign. the power windows and door locks don't work, the CD player doesn't turn on, and the inside blower motor doesn't work. Also, when I turn the headlights on, the horn goes off and won't shut off until I pull the fuse. The lights do turn on, and sometimes they will turn off. I took the fuse box off under the hood, and when I bang it around a lill bit, the horn will go off and not stop. The car also had a Clifford alarm/remote start and an apexi turbo timer in it when I bought it. When I started ripping the dash apart I found a few cut wires from the ECU and both the systems where very poorly wired. I'm just looking for a starting place to troubleshooting. Maybe a loose ground in the car? I'm just not sure. Any help would be great, thank you guys,
EricT

PS - sorry if it's hard to read, it's 11:30 at night and I have been in the garage since noon. I'm a little tired

 

[1fast97gsx]

Check the service manual for any wires that all share the same ground or power for the things that aren't working. Then find out if it's melted or just a bad connection. Then replace the part.

 

[unlikely hero]

You ever figure out what was wrong because I have the same exact problem!
=Jason-

 

[drivemusicnow]

Okay, I don't have any specific experience with your situation, however when trouble shooting vehicles at the shop, heres the process I go through.


First, locate ALL aftermarket wiring. If its not stock, make a note of it.

Take everything that isn't stock and create a little chart. something like this:

What it is connected to Connected From Aftermarket wire color Stock wire color

for example:
Remote start ECU Red green W/black

Then get ALL of the wiring diagrams you need. Do all this legwork before you start anything else, as its SOO much easier. ECU pinouts, the aftermarket remote start wiring harness diagram etc.

After you check these (and its easier to make the chart, and then just look up wire colors then to try and do both at the same time.. trust me)

Then, if you haven't found any problems, move on to the problem spots that are usually found in the stock wiring harness.

The fuse boxes, the location where the main wiring harness goes through the firewall, etc.


After this, its all ohm meter fun!

(I might suggest in your case to check that engine bay fuse box by removing it and making sure that you don't have a short up there first, as I THINK I remember someone telling me they had a horn issue because of it.)

Sorry I can't be of more help