no power no nothing to whole car

[DaveSmed]

Great! Glad to hear you got it sorted! For future reference too with the DME, pin 27, a solid green wire is the biggie for getting the car running. That solid green wire connects to that same solid green from the ignition switch (albeit through a few connectors and relays).

[3toedshewie]

thanks and usefull electrical troubleshooting links

pin 27/solid green wire important in getting car running. got it. thanks Dave!

found some very usefull links on how german cars are commonly wired and how to take on any electrical project:
enjoy the links:

Electrical Diagnosis How-to (how german cars are commonly wired):
www.924.org/techsection/elect_diag.htm

How to tackle electronics projects- the instructional DIY:
www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread/php?t=107971

[3toedshewie]

here we go again

this is the second time I have written the following tonight- thank you r3vlimited.com automatic log out!

last night. put key in ignition expecting a start up from the motor.
turn key to accessory postion and all my lights come on, all is well.
try to start the motor, I hear a "click" from I think the starter and nothing.
DArkness!!!!!:hitler:, I get no lights, no nothing, back to original problem
take the key out, put it back in. turn to accessory position- darkness!!!!:hitler:

disonnect and reconnect battery - same darknesss!!!!

tonight I started troubleshooting:
->started by trying to start the car after I saw all my lights came on after i turned the igition switch to the acesssory postiion- same thing as last night- lights then "click" then DARknesss!!!
-> tested aux fuse box to see what voltage I get.
-> 12V constant position in aux fuse box- 1.35V?!?!?!?
-> 12V to accessory position in aux fuse box - 0.00V ?!?!!?!?

-> tried pushing wires back in like last time- didnt work.
-> thinkin I have a short:
-> I hook the test lights ground to the negative battery terminal,
->remove a fuse from the box,
-> insert test light into the socket of the fuse I just removed and start wiggling every wire I can find around the car. looking for a change in the test light while I am wiggling- nothing,
->i do this for about 5 fuses b4 realising that I need the key turned to accessory position.
-> when I turn the key to accessory position all my lights come on again. -thats weird.
-> will it start? YES!!!
-> weird
I still dont know what the Fu$& is going on.

I also had about an hour where I played with Fuse 10 and the K5 and K7 relays thinking they may be the problem. no, not the problem, car starts with all of them removed.

here are my questions for the forum,
Ok, has anyone else had a simiar problem? what fixed it?
does anyone know how and where I can test for a short in the ignition switch/starting circuit?

any help would be deeply appriciated.:D

[LJ851]

Check the tightness of all your main battery cable connections (positive and negative) all the way to the starter. It is possible you have a loose or dirty connection that is arcing when a large load is applied (starter).

Also ,you don't have to retype your message if you time out. If you submit your message and it says you are not logged in, just log in on that page and your message will get posted.

[3toedshewie]

thanks

Thanks for responding LJ851, will do that soon. oh, thought my message would be gone. thanks

[3toedshewie]

LJ851 u 2 right

ok,
thats two electrical bugs down. this time LJ851 was right. Tightened the postive battery cable, then watched it loosen itself. gave it another tightening and it started right up. thank you LJ.