Diagnose this electrical problem, please (headlights, turn signals, etc)

[EricGRIT09]

Hello,

I have posted this once before in a different thread, but now I'm making my own thread with some up to date information.

Basically, I have some electrical gremlins in my 1995 GSX. Here's the lowdown:

-Basic problem is that the taillights/sidemarkers/gauges stopped working randomly. Sometimes they would take a while to turn on, but then usually stayed on once they were lit. Every once in a while they would turn off while driving. (Checked fuses, relays, took out stereo, unhooked aftermarket gauges, no help).

-Some additional information on this part is that sometimes the lights flicker, sometimes they don't. It all seems so random. Usually, I will flip the headlight switch and they will either work or won't work. Sometimes I can turn the lights off, on, off, on, off, on, just perfectly. Then one time, they will just not work. As I'm looking for the problem going through the fusebox and wiring, I will look over and they will be on. Now, also I can just walk around the car and they might start working randomly. Basically, I haven't found the problem, haha.

If anyone can give me some pointers as to where to look, that would be greatly appreciated.

Now, there is another problem also:

-As I was looking to fix this problem, my dad touched some grounds to the 60A fusible link positive terminal. A spark later, and my door locks, heater blower, mirror lights, radio, and alarm don't work. Also, the MPI relay has started clicking after this (only when the parking lights are on, not when the headlights are on also. And, the car seems to run fine). I have ordered a new MPI relay just in case, but maybe its just fine.

So, if anyone can help out there, it would be cool too.

Such a pain in the ass, damn wiring. I really could use some suggestions, I'm just tearing stuff apart now, checking everything, wiggling things to see if anything pops up. Nothing yet, and this is my DD. Already been pulled over for no tail lights

Thanks guys

 

[tbonitz301]

If you've looked everywhere else id start looking at the switch. Sounds like a bad connection.

 

[My1GLaser]

I am not very familiar with the 2g so this is all on a 1g, but here we go.

I would check all the electrical grounds that you have been near when modifying anything. I would start under the hood with the two on the firewall. There are also 1 behind each headlight in the fender area (basically). After that I would check behind the kick panel on the drivers and pass side. There is one behind near the radio area. There are more I am sure, but these affect the accessories the most. I have had intermittent elec probs in the past which turned out to be loose/bad grounds most of the time. Are any of your lights aftermarket? There are grounds at the taillights which screw into the body also.

If they all check out then post back and we can go from there. I am not the best at elec (yet) but these damn cars have schooled me a great deal.

 

[luv2rallye]

Your taillight relay may be intermittent, try replacing it. Otherwise I agree bad ground connection somewhere.

 

[EricGRIT09]

Thanks guys, definitely gives me some specific places to look.

I'll be back with an update when I get back home to my car.

 

[EricGRIT09]

Well, finally fixed the problem! After ripping everything apart and looking for grounds/shorts all over, I finally found a nasty short. Under the driver side side marker light theres the main bundle of wires in the loom. The green/white was the culprit, where it goes from three wires to one, and heat-shrinked. It actually started smoking when I started moving the wires around there .

Thanks for all the help guys, maybe this will help some other people with their problems

 

[My1GLaser]

Good job man. Glad you found the problem. Intermittent elec problems are a freaking nuisance.