No crank, not start and no power inside car

Tiny
LINCOLNMARK8MAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 PONTIAC SUNBIRD
  • 3.1L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
Drove car to store ran fine shut off went inside maybe 5 minutes came back out turned key to on no power window, no radio, no gauges moving, battery, ignition switch. All fuses in fuse box and relays under-hood checked out okay with multimeter. Any suggestions please?
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 AT 12:55 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Does anything work? For example, do the interior lights or headlamps work? I need to know if there are things working not associated with the ignition switch or if the failures are only powered with the switch in the on position.

Also, when you checked fuses, did you simply check the fuse, or did you also check for power to and from them?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Let me know.

Take care,

Joe
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 AT 7:38 PM
Tiny
LINCOLNMARK8MAN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yes, the head lights and interior lights work just nothing else hazards not working, power top not working, basically nothing that needs the key to be on. I have checked just the fuses and the ignition switch with multimeter but no not any wires yet. Plan on testing the wires to the ignition switch in morning. Thanks so much for your time in trying to help me identify a place to check. On a side note, checked the fuses just by visual the relays I checked one at a time with a known good relay with no change and the ignition switch was tested by giving it power via a jumper wire and ground and testing the terminals with multimeter with switch in all different positions and got power to all places it should. Thanks again.
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

If you haven't, just make sure the fuses are getting power. Because of the model year, I'm struggling to find schematics and legends for the fuse box. I did find one pic showing the ignition fuse. Make sure to check it and confirm there is power both to and from it.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

See pic below.
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 AT 8:28 PM
Tiny
LINCOLNMARK8MAN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I only have power in fuse box at batt, heat ac, cigar lighter, tail, ctsy, fuses the rest including the ignition highlighted have basically no power am only reading 0.02. Thanks
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Okay, because I have no power distribution schematics, it will make things a little more difficult, but we should be able to figure it out.

Under the hood, is there a fuse legend on the underside of the fuse box? If so, is there anything that indicates ignition or panel?

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
LINCOLNMARK8MAN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I couldn't find any fuse box under the hood.
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 AT 7:21 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

I'm likely driving you crazy. I have no idea why I have no schematics specific to power distribution for this vehicle.

Regardless, I spoke with the site owner about your vehicle. He reminded me that the power to the fuse box in the vehicle is provided via a fusible link.

A fusible link looks like a regular wire, but it functions as a fuse. It may be bad.

I attached a pic below. See if the highlighted wire from the battery positive is there and let me know its color.

Joe
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
LINCOLNMARK8MAN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
The color is red, and it does have a black fusible link, but I checked with my multimeter and I'm getting 12.4 volts on both sides of the link, and I so appreciate your investment of time in helping me.
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,
Are there any other links you see? Also, if you go to the alternator, do you see the red wire? Does it have power?

I found one generic schematic showing the fusible link. One from the battery supplies the power distribution system. See pic below. If I see pic below. Also, pic 2 shows where they are on the alt, so you could confirm power at that point.

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 AT 9:15 PM
Tiny
LINCOLNMARK8MAN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Sorry for the delay had a crazy work week but no I didn't see any other fusible links and yes, I do have power at the alternator. Thanks for your help.
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Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 AT 12:14 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

The only thing I was able to go to a newer year. It should be the same or similar.

If you look below, it shows what I thought. Fusible links from the battery send power to the switch and fuse box.

I highlighted the fusible link that I need you to check. See if you are able to locate it on the 1992.

Let me know.

Joe

See pics below. I attached the entire power distribution system for a 1994, so it is close in year. I had to cut each pic in half to make them readable for you but overlapped them so you can follow from one to the next.
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Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 AT 7:01 PM

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