1999 Pontiac Sunfire, no power to ignition (won't start)

Tiny
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Thats crazy the red wires should have battery voltage with the switch off. Nothing passes thru the switch with it off. Are you sure your getting a good ground for the meter?Also with the switch off and it plugged in what are the readings of the other wires besides the ones you already checked?
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
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Switch off, other wires show zero voltage. Grounding meter to steering column mounting bolts. I took the fuse panel box that is under the hood loose to check for possible wire fell off or bad wire, ect. While jiggling the wires around, car came alive for a brief moment. Heard a click or snap sound, like a fuse popped. Checked fuses, all ok, but no power to instrument cluster again. Thinking inline fuse? But cant find the rascal if it's in there. Considering replacing fuse box. Not sure what else it could be
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
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Ok just rechecked the wires going to the switch & ran a wire to the ground on the battery to assure I had good ground.
With ignition switch OFF & all plugs connected to switch, the 2 beg red wires show 12+volts, the little green wire shows 10.44 volts, all other wires are zero volts
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 5:39 PM
Tiny
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With ignition switch on, the big red wires ( ignition hot) both drop to zero volts
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
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Heres my thoughts on this one looks like you have a bad connection wire to the under hood fuse box where the red wires go into the fuse or a bad under hood fuse box. What I have I seen happen a lot on cars is a bad connection where the wire terminal meets the terminal to the underside of the fuse boxe. Unplug the connector going to the fuse box that has the red wires that feed the ignition switch. Then look at the terminal openings see if the red wires terminal is spread open compare it to the other terminals. If its open it will be clearly noticable. Let me know what you find also make sure the wire doesnt have too much movement in and out of the connector. Were getting really close.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:06 PM
Tiny
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Going to go do that now. Will tell you what I find
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:11 PM
Tiny
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Alright keep me posted.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:18 PM
Tiny
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Ok, red wire going from battery to fuse panel under hood corroded, cleaned it up, checked voltage from battery to fuse box on every wire in the box. All of them show 12+ volts EXCEPT the small wires ( orange, purple, green, green/white stripe) they have zero voltage. Also tested every relay in box. My multi meter doesn't have a continuity tester, so hooked battery to pins 86&85 on relay, & ohm'd pins 30 & 87 to see if circuit opens. All relays clicked & ohm'd out. Son took my truck to work. So cant go after a new cable for fuse box & contact cleaner. So will have to wait till morning. But with running a heavy guage jump wire from battery to post on fuse box, still have power to switch, but when turn switch on, voltage drops to zero. Dash lights & instruments still dont come on
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:34 PM
Tiny
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Also. When checking the voltage on the wires in the fuse box. They read 12+ volts ( cept the ones I mentioned) BUT they didnt instantly show 12 volts, it climbed up slowly
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:38 PM
Tiny
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We need to take care of that corroded wire. So is the postive battery cable itself corroded?If so I would replace it not clean it sounds like the acid has gotten into the cable itself. Keep me posted.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:40 PM
Tiny
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Yeah, gonna replace em both. But will be tomorrow. Also going to remove the copper plates in fuse box, sand them down, make them shiny & drown em in die electric grease when re-assembled. Will let you know tomorrow how it goes & thanks much for the help so far!
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:48 PM
Tiny
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Your welcome keep me posted.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 AT 10:50 PM
Tiny
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Replaced both battery cables, replaced wire going to fuse box, removed & cleaned contacts in fuse box. Same problem, power to switch when off, turn switch on, no power
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 AT 7:37 PM
Tiny
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What happened to you moved the wires at the fuse box and everything came to life?I would concentrat on that area.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 AT 8:32 PM
Tiny
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Thinking there may be a short in one of the ign wires going to fuse box under dash, going to run a jumper wire from fuse box under hood to ignition switch & see if it powers up, if it does, replacing some wiring, if it dont. Breaking out the.45 acp & putting that car out of my misery.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
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I would think if the wires being connected when The switch was turned on were shorting to ground you would see and smell smoke at the very least or the fuse would blow. Let me know what you find.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
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Found it. Ignition wire between hood fuse box & ign switch has a short, running new wire now. Again MUCHO THANKS! If there is a rating thing on here, you get an A+!
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+1
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
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Your welcome thats what were here for glad to hear you found the problem.I figured thats where the problem was.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 AT 10:10 PM

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