Mystery Goblin Killed my Engine

[jeffnhiscars]

So I get to a rd light and my gauges go dead. No hiccup, no misses...the car just stopped as I sat at a light. I tried to restart it and no crank, the needles don't move, the hvac blower and check panel are not working. I do have windows, radio, turn signals etc.

While waiting for the tow truck I check with 2 of my experts who both think ignition switch. When I get back I pull thenswotch, checkmeach wire for continuity then check for proper operation. The switch seems fine so I reinstall it.

I put an alligator clip on the solenoid wire at the starter and connect the other end to my VOM inside the car, turn the ignition and nothing. I disconnect the black solenoid wire on the engine side of c200 on the steering column and connect my jumper to here so I have now bypassed the c200 to starter wire.

Starts right up, runs perfectly, tach runs for 3 seconds then stops but the engine keeps going like the good ole days. The check panel now lights

I check all the fuses, switch around the orange relays/unloaders, no change but I do note that my right low beam is out. I swap bulbs and fuses and nonchange so it's also the low beam circuit

I'll dive back in tomorrow but thought I'd share this. Educated guesses welcome

[superj]

bad wire in c200, or bad connection in c200?

[jeffnhiscars]

Keep in mind multiple things werent working

I actually fixed this but I'm interested in the opinions before I share

[Das Delfin]

my guess would be something silly like an electrical connection such as a bad engine ground

[TobyB]

or fusible link in trunk. Monkey got bored, fucked with it.

t

[squidmaster]

definitely going with shorted connection but it's hard to pinpoint. Curious as to the issue turned out to be

[Cephas]

Sounds like a bad ground? Probably the one by your feet on the drivers side.

[noid]

DME Relay = crank but, no start
Engine ground on drivers side from oil pan to body = no crank, but bump starting will work if its a manual.

To rule out the engine ground: take some jumper cables and attach one end to your oil drain plug and the other end to your steering rack. Then try starting the car.

[jeffnhiscars]

Let me clarify a couple of things. Of all the checking I did in the OP, I missed something and rather than say I fixed it I'm going to say I got it running and everything works. I'm not certain yet that it's fixed although I drove around Tampa yesterday without issue

[jeffnhiscars]

bad wire in c200, or bad connection in c200?

Bypassing C200 did allow it to start but that could be from a bad component

my guess would be something silly like an electrical connection such as a bad engine ground

This was the first thought I had.

or fusible link in trunk. Monkey got bored, fucked with it.

t

It's a cabrio so nothing in the trunk. I also think a fusible link would kill the whole car rather than just parts of it. I'm not aware of how many there might be but I think just one.

definitely going with shorted connection but it's hard to pinpoint. Curious as to the issue turned out to be

Agree

Sounds like a bad ground? Probably the one by your feet on the drivers side.

IVe driven 1000miles or so since my dash swap so one possibility was that I pinched or damaged something that decided to go wrong st that very moment so in addition to removing the ignition switch I did poke around above the pedals quite a bit. Didn't find anything.

DME Relay = crank but, no start
Engine ground on drivers side from oil pan to body = no crank, but bump starting will work if its a manual.

To rule out the engine ground: take some jumper cables and attach one end to your oil drain plug and the other end to your steering rack. Then try starting the car.

Good point. This was no crank no start but I'll recheck the engine to chassis grounds.

[squidmaster]

Okay actually since reading the mysterious things you just posted I'm going with loose battery terminal haha

Sent from my Robin using Tapatalk

[jeffnhiscars]

Okay actually since reading the mysterious things you just posted I'm going with loose battery terminal haha

Sent from my Robin using Tapatalk

Jesse I'm hurt.....lol

Remember I had working windows, radio, alt light etc so I had juice

[jeffnhiscars]

I double checked the fuses with a VOM and #10 was bad. After replacing it everything is perfect. This pretty much rules out grounds as a cause.

I can't say if it was a mechanical failure from fatigue or something that caused it to blow which could happen again. I'm driving back o Charlotte today with some spare fuses and just hope I don't go through them.

[squidmaster]

Hahaha hey! When the temperature changes like this sometimes the metals expanding and shrinking can cause the terminals to go loose. But I forgot about the windows.

So tellme already! I want to know! Hah

[jeffnhiscars]

I told you. It was fuse 10 and I drove 600 miles today and car was flawless.