engine starts, all other electrics dead

1999 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER
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BENPOS
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plymouth voyager 1999: all electrics -apart from ignition(!) and speedometer, fuelmeter, and odometer- don't work: blinker,radio,ventilator,windows all dear. Since ignition works and car starts and drives without problem, I suspect a relay/circuit breaker that stops the main comsumers during the cranking process, and further suspect this relay/circuit breaker to be broken. Where would this be located?
If I'm not making sense - alternative diagnosis!?
Many thanks in advance, Ben
Jan 28, 2011 at 2:36 AM
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CARADIODOC
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Suspect the ignition switch. All of the things you mentioned are on one circuit that is different than the engine and dash circuits. If you use a voltmeter or test light on the fuses, you'll find the voltage is missing for all the dead circuits.

Also inspect the terminals in the switch connector. Any that are darkened can be cut out and replaced separately or they will cause heat buildup and early failure of the new switch. Usually the wires will be hardened too from being overheated and will be very hard to solder to. Cut off about four inches and splice in new pieces. Cover the splices with heat-shrink tubing, and be sure there aren't any sharp points of copper wire strands sticking up that could poke through that tubing.

You can use crimp-type replacement terminals, but solder them too for a better connection.

caradiodoc
Jan 28, 2011 at 6:41 AM
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