No headlights after new starter

[vnoyes]

My son installed new starter on my 90 Festiva, now headlights won't workohsnap and "charging" dash light is illuminated. He's stumped. Any thoughts? Thanks:p

[Grey Vw]

Something definitely went wrong, if the battery light is on then the battery isn't being charged. Maybe he mixed the alternator and starter cables?

[wybnrml]

Check the middle fusible link. They can become loose and corroded. It just my be a coincidence that the problem occured at the same time. Mine was bad and the headlights would go out and the charge light would come on.
Here is a pic of what it looks like. If they look corroded I would suggest you replace them with the long fusible links. You can get them at any auto parts store. Most people go with 30-40-30 amp fuses left to right.

[vnoyes]

Thanks y'all he is checking that right now, thank goodness for this forum, I will report back Friday!!!

[econoaddict]

I am betting on one of the 3 above fusible links popped, I will go with the one labeled "head" the alternator has a wire tied into that circuit along with the lights.

[ericsmith32]

Huh do report back on what you find. Sounds like a similiar problem I had with the Aspire. The charging light is on at first but if rev the engine. I never could get the head lights to work so I ran a hard line to the head light relay. The starter was loose when I bought the car. I did check all the connections but never found anything.

[vnoyes]

BINGO!! copper wire was brittle and broke, son soldered temp fix, will head to auto parts store for those fuse box thingies today, what are those called? Thanks so much to everyone, invaluable information!!

[phyaz91]

... save your money go to the jy and get those while browsing for other parts.......theyre like $3.50 a piece otherwise

[wybnrml]

BINGO!! copper wire was brittle and broke, son soldered temp fix, will head to auto parts store for those fuse box thingies today, what are those called? Thanks so much to everyone, invaluable information!!

They are called fusible links. And make sure to get the ones with the long legs.

[Pu241]

They are called fusible links. And make sure to get the ones with the long legs.

Just to be clear.

The red and brown wire like connectors are fusible links.

The replacements for thefusible links are called cartridge fuses.
Most definitely make sure you get the ones which are longer, the shorter ones will not fit without serious modifications, like breaking the casing, which defeat the purpose of having a casing.

[hotrodin4me]

on the short cartridge fuses i just cut the middle of the legs
with a hacksaw blade to make the space between longer
does no damage to the fuse and works great. the short one
are easier to find at junk yards

[wybnrml]

Just to be clear.

The red and brown wire like connectors are fusible links.

The replacements for thefusible links are called cartridge fuses.
Most definitely make sure you get the ones which are longer, the shorter ones will not fit without serious modifications, like breaking the casing, which defeat the purpose of having a casing.

Are you sure? The cartridge type fuses are cataloged as fusible links. When you purchase them the are labled fusible links. I think both are still fusible links. http://www.cooperbussmann.com/pdf/01...eb8b13d2c5.pdf

[Pu241]

^^^
I suspect we both maybe right, I know when I got to the parts stores they don't know what a fusible link looks like for a fester, but they say you might find something you can use in the fuse section. And IIRC, the package with my last new "cartridge" fuse did say cartridge on it, but I do not have it to check.
After viewing your link above it might also have said "fusible link" on the packaging as well.
Just so long as he knows what he looking for at the McParts place he should be OK.

[vnoyes]

Detail Festiva

So happy with the most realiable car in our household, I am going to detail her inside and out today as her reward!!

[Safety Guy]

Karl